Two years after their birth, toddlers suddenly fell sick with vomiting and loose motions. PHOTO: FILE
A couple, Hanan and Bilqees Memon, were blessed with twin daughters in Abdul Rehman Memon Goth on the eve of Eidul Fitr. Two years after their birth, the toddlers suddenly fell sick with vomiting and loose motions.
They were being taken to a hospital when one of them died on the way. Later, doctors linked the death to consumption of contaminated water.
“The vice-chairperson of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board belongs to our area. We have protested many times before him to provide us with drinking water, but he always makes false promises,” said the couple quoting the name of the PPP MPA and former minister Sajid Jokhio. “During the last election campaign, we banned his entry into our village, but he has conveyed a message that he would provide us with a drinking water scheme,” they said.
For his part, Jokhio said he was not aware of the plight of the voters. He shared that the PPP had provided jobs to the villagers and built roads in the area. He added that the government has spent Rs2 billion in Malir and Gadap to provide roads and other facilities. “I agree that underground water has become contaminated because of Malir River which was the lifeline of people. People dump garbage and dispose of industrial waste in the river,” he said, adding that the provincial government has introduced many schemes in the areas. Some are finished while work on others is in progress. “I will further speak to the chief minister and obtain a special package for these people,” he said, adding that he has recently submitted drinking water schemes for the areas, which would be approved soon.
On the other hand, the youth have formed alliances and decided to contest the upcoming elections independently. “We have now formed an independent group of young candidates who will contest the election against the PPP and other parties. I hope we will sweep the polls,” said former UC nazim Mujahid Jokhio, adding that during the nomination process of local government polls, many PPP leaders had asked them not to contest against their party candidates, but they have decided otherwise.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 20th, 2014.
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Wait till the nuclear waste starts appearing in our land mass. While we have the bombs, huge army and expensive weapons who cares about the poor masses. They should be thankful if they even get water let alone uncontaminated water. We do not have any proper disposal system for chemical, biological, or nuclear waste what else can be expected? Feel sorry for these people but we have made our choice and now all we have is contaminated grass.