December 25, 2006	Monday	Zilhaj 03, 1427

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GUJRAT, Dec 24: Habitual mismanagement by various government functionaries while carrying out uplift projects, especially laying of sewerage system, has become a public nuisance.

A survey conducted by Dawn revealed that inept contractors were responsible for carrying out several projects at a snail’s pace and for damaging underground telephone cables, Sui gas pipes and water supply lines.

The district government and the Gujrat TMA had given contracts for laying sewerage system and for construction of various roads about six months ago. Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had during his visit to the city on Eidul Fitr directed the government functionaries to complete all ongoing uplift projects before Dec 31. However, the target is unlikely to be met.

The survey revealed that the excavators had damaged underground telephone cable from various spots as a result of which over 25,000 phones had gone silent. The people living in areas from Servis Morr to Industrial Estate on GT Road, in Shadman Colony, Chah Buddha, Jail Chowk, on Rehman Shaheed Road, Jalalpur Jattan Road, Jail Road and Jinnah Road were worst affected.

The police refused to lodge cases against the contractors when the PTCL authorities complained the matter to them, sources said, adding that the influential contractors had refused to pay damages to the PTCL. The citizens, on the other hand, alleged that the PTCL officials paid no heed to their complaints when they visited the offices for redress of their grievances.

The use of heavy machinery had also broken the Sui gas pipelines from different places disrupting the supply to consumers. Sources said no official of the SNGPL had indicated to the contractors about the exact locations of the underground pipes which had cost the public dearly.

Difficulties in getting potable water also had made the people’s lives miserable due to damage caused by heavy machinery to underground water pipelines.

Yet another complaint a number of residents had lodged was that their properties had been devalued after the constructors had raised the level of roads by six inches to two feet. “Rainwater seeps into houses causing a great deal of discomfort to the people.”

Many are the roads and low-lying streets submerged with rainwater for the last few months. The road leading to the city’s biggest school where more than 5,000 students study remains inundated with sewerage water and the children have to wade through dirty water.

“It seems that the government has not done any homework before launching the uplift schemes and the mismanagement has hit the common man hard,” according to a resident. He said traffic mess being created owing to ill-managed construction activities and other projects had become a nagging ill.

Chah Buddha-Badshahi Road and Shadman Colony’s main thoroughfare had been closed to traffic for the last six months and the construction work was being done at a snail’s pace.