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Colonies without sewerage By Majeed Gill Both the Muhammadia and Trust colonies are known as modern residential localities of the city. However, their residents have been without a proper sewerage system for the last many years. Earlier, the district nazim assured that an under-ground sewerage would be laid in Muhammadia Colony. But, so far no headway has been made in this respect. In the absence of proper drainage, the residents live in a slum-like environment. Every inhabitant has built a septic tank in front of his house due to which the streets are full of sullage. The place has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Streams of stinking sullage are difficult to cross. The residents have to keep their doors and windows shut most of the time. It is feared that if any epidemic breaks out in this area, it could engulf the whole city. Besides, the colonies are without proper streetlights. According to the residents, the sullage is also damaging the foundation of many houses. The residents have reminded the District Nazim of his promises and asked him to allocate the necessary funds before the expiry of his term. They have also drawn the attention of DCO towards this problem with the request that the matter should be taken up by the district development committee, which is empowered to allocate funds for laying sewerage in the area. * * * * * The encroachment mafia in the Walled City has made the life of the citizens miserable. The District Nazim seems helpless in eliminating the encroachments. Roads have been turned into narrow lanes causing difficulties for the people. Most shopkeepers have piled up their goods in front of their shops to attract customers. If somebody objects to the illegal practice the shopkeepers react sharply. The situation from Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq to Chowk Bazaar is serious as the shopkeepers have taken over the entire passage. The local administration has several times launched operations against encroachments, but to no avail. Slackness of TMA officials is one of the reasons. President, Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran, Bahawalpur, Siraj Badar, has endorsed the move to demolish the encroachments. But the shopkeepers seem to be non-cooperative. Encroachments have disfigured the beauty of Farid Gate, Shahi Bazaar, Fateh Khan Bazaar and Gri Gang Bazaar. So, the TMA officials should launch an effective drive against them. * * * * * Mr Asghar Bahawalpuri, a film and TV artiste, recently claimed that he has made the world's largest security lock with two keys, breaking the Guinness World Record, 2003. According to him, the lock weighs 140 kgs. Its length is 34 inches, width 19.5 and thickness 5.75 inches. He told Dawn that according to the Guinness World Record Book, 2003 (Page No 117) Mr Zafar Iqbal probably of Lahore, created the world's largest working and security lock with a length of 16.5 inches and weight of 96 kg. He said that he intended to put this lock in an international exhibition to get his name in the Guinness Book. He said that it took him about a year to make this lock with the help of an old man in Sialkot. Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
