Water supply in most parts of the city is contaminated with sewer water. It is causing an outbreak of gastroenteritis in the city, residents of these areas say.
They complain that Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) authorities have been ignoring the problem.
Muhammad Hanif, a resident of Allama Iqbal Colony, said that water from the taps in his area had a stench. He said it could not be used for drinking or cooking even after being boiled. He said the Wasa had been informed about the matter several times, but the problem persisted.
Ghulam Yaseen, a resident of Ghulam Muhammadabad, too, complained about the same problem. He said the number of gastro patients in his colony was increasing.
He said water from Wasa supply at public tanks also tasted and smelled bad.
Residents of D-Type Colony, Razaabad, Mohallah Qasimabad, Nawabanwala, Samanabad, Baowala, Gulfishan Colony, Jhang Bazaar and Douglaspura also said they were not getting safe water. WASA spokesman Azhar Aziz said that the smell was because of chlorine added to the water. He said some of the water supply pipes were old and rusted. He said they were being replaced. However, he said, Wasa did not have enough funds to replace all of these. He said unhygienic food was the main reason for gastroenteritis.
“It’s not fair to blame Wasa in this regard,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 1st, 2013.
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