Minor damage from flooding of residential areas was reported in some areas of Rawalpindi. PHOTO: APP
Stagnant rainwater, clogged drains and piles of garbage on Rawal Road pose a serious risk to nearby residents of contracting the dengue and malaria viruses.
Clogged drains on either side of the road have been spreading a nasty stench for several days and reflect the apathy of Rawalpindi’s Solid Waste Management.
During rainfall, road users are forced to wade through the flooded streets.
Jehangir, a resident, complained that despite repeated attempts, the district government has yet to install sewerage pipes.
“Water often enters houses in low-lying areas, making our lives miserable,” he said. To make matters worse, the stagnated water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and hence diseases.”
Residents said that their appeals to the authorities to initiate fumigation campaigns have fallen on deaf ears.
Rubbish heaps on both sides of the road from Chah Sultan to Ali Nawaz Chowk are also accumulating by the day and making it difficult for even pedestrians to pass through.
“We have no other option but to dump garbage on the roadside. It is the duty of the relevant department to remove it,” said Zafar Ilahi, a resident of Chah Sultan.
He demanded that the Rawalpindi Development Authority construct drains at various points as the area population has been increasing manifold.
When contacted, Solid Waste Management District Officer Dr Mazhar Azeem refused to comment on the issue.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 3rd, 2013.
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