January 20, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 10, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 19: Leaking waterlines and overflowing gutters are not only creating hindrances in the smooth flow of vehicular traffic but also extensively damaging roads in different parts of the city.

A large quantity of water gushing out from the leaking lines is being wasted daily while the sewage overflowing from chocked gutters has become a major source of creating an unhygienic atmosphere in the affected localities.

Complaining about the leaking waterlines, residents of the KDA Scheme-I said that a huge quantity of water which was being wasted daily due to these leakages could be seen overflowing on a main street of the locality, near Nadra’s office and an adjoining roundabout from where not only the residents but a large number of other motorists took a shortcut to either proceed towards Karsaz Road or Shaheed-i-Millat Road via Tipu Sultan Road.

“A major portion of Tipu Sultan Road from Karsaz Road’s turning to Adamjee Nagar roundabout had developed deep craters and potholes owing to the water gushing out from some leaking pipelines, causing heavy jerks to the motorists, in general and motorcyclists, in particular, and damages to their vehicles,” an elderly person of the locality deplored.

Residents of Mohammad Ali Society also complained that a filthy environment often continued to prevail around the Society’s main roundabout despite the fact that it served as their main shopping area where a number of ice cream parlours, fast food and barbecue outlets existed.

A resident of Khudadad Colony, Mr Haquani, complained that although the colony’s nearby main road and its roundabout was constructed only a couple of weeks back, it was fast being damaged partly because of overflowing gutters and partly due to the slippery conditions being created there owing to frequent movement of water tankers drawing water from the two hydrants of Muslimabad.

He also attributed the existing condition of the road to the poor quality of material used in its construction.

Meanwhile, shopkeepers of Mohtandas and its adjacent markets, located near Kharadar’s Memon Masjid, regretted that on the one hand, poor law and order situation had badly affected their businesses while on the other, a number of shoppers avoided visiting their markets as a filthy environment often continued to prevail in the area owing to the recurring menace of overflowing gutters.

“We have repeatedly requested the relevant officials of the KWSB to help solve the lingering issue of chocked sewage lines but they have, so far, failed to rectify the problem,” an office-bearer of Mohtandas Market informed Dawn.

Similarly, a major street of Gulshan-i-Iqbal’s Block 13-D, which serves as a major link road between Gulshan-i-Iqbal and Federal B Area via Sehba Akhtar Road, has almost been devastated as sewage often remains stagnant on its major portion, starting from Al-Azam Square to Friends’ Garden apartment buildings.

People living near a number of huge apartment buildings such as Hassan Square, Samorina Apartments, Dashtiar Apartment building, Erum Garden, complained that the recurring menace of overflowing gutters had rendered a portion of the street impassable and created an unhygienic atmosphere in their locality.

Besides, leaking water has also damaged a portion of main University Road although it was recently carpeted.