More than 1.2 million people of 50 union councils of Multan city are facing threat to their health due to non-availability of potable water and inadequate sewerage system. Entire sewerage system has been collapsed resultantly spreading hepatitis B, C and other viral diseases in the city. Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) Multan has declared 28 localities of 50 union councils as dangerous due to old sewerage lines which were laid some 30 years ago and need immediate replacement with huge capacity pipelines.
Now, the Wasa has launched new sewerage line project on Vehari road with estimated cost of Rs 250 million, Malik Tasadduq Hussain, Managing Director Wasa said.
But many areas are still inundated in sewerage water. For instance, choking 42-inch sewerage line on Hamayun road has hit the entire vicinity of Timber Market, Mehboob colony, Abidpura, Chah Amb wala, Makran Colony, Chah Jali-wala, Pir Oddh road, Basti Daira, Totalpura, Shaikh Allah Ditta Colony, Jog-maya, Al-Jilan road, Chah Mout-wala, Abbas Pura, Chori-gar, Bhutta colony, Madina colony, Ghalla Mandi, Islamnagar, Borhpura, Sunshine colony, Chah Deway-wala, Yaquob town, Basti Ghulam Muhammad, Hassanpura, Shaheen Market and all roads have been flooded with filthy water.
The Wasa official on contact said that they were trying to pump out the stagnating water while normalcy was restored in some areas and assured they would control the situation soon.
A city engineer alleged that the Wasa authorities did not bother to check drainage level and quality of pipes used by contractors and at various places influential people had constructed their shops on gutters with connivance of concerned officials.