Emerging cities: ‘Poor’ sewerage system plan protested

BAHAWALPUR:

Scores of residents of Bahawalpur on Friday protested against the district administration, saying poor planning had ruined the sewerage system of the city.

They gathered at the press club and chanted slogans against the district administration.

Talking to newsmen, Ashraf Khan, one of the protesters, said a few months ago, the district administration had decided to include Quaid-i-Azam College sewerage system in the city’s main sewerage structure.

He said this had ruined the city. He said later, MPA Syed Wasim Akhtar had approved Rs170 million rupees for laying a new sewerage line.

“Installation of the pipeline started at Bund Road last month,” he said.

He said the road had been dug up and sewerage lines had been damaged as a result.

He said the water from the damaged sewers had entered houses in the area.

“They told us that this pipeline would pass through Circular Road,” he said. “It has been over a month and two major parts of the city have been dug up. No one is looking at the mess.”

Muhammad Ghani, another protester, said, “We cannot cross the road,” he said. “The stench is terrible and many houses have been damaged in the process.”

The protesters urged the chief minister to take notice of the situation and resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2015.