KOHAT: Broken bridges, dilapidated roads and clogged drains in Kohat city and adjoining areas show the concerned authorities’ lack of interest towards providing civic amenities to the residents.

People of Shahpar area on the outskirts of Kohat city told Dawn on Sunday that they had been protesting for a year demanding repair of a bridge, which connects more than dozen villages with the city, but to no avail.

They said that about two months back, they blocked the Bannu bypass road, but police, instead of listening to their demand, arrested 16 protesters.

They informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Deputy Speaker had promised to release funds for early repair of the bridge, but he failed to materialise his words.

The local people said that they had also set up a camp near the broken bridge to collect funds for repairing it on self-help basis.

They hoped that they would be able to collect enough money in a month for the purpose.

Similarly, they said Rs10 million had been spent on Nanraka road, but due to use of substandard material the road had fallen apart.

They informed that Lachi tehsil assistant commissioner had also ordered inquiry into the funds’ embezzlement, but the culprits were not punished.

The local residents said that excessive loadshedding had caused severe water shortage in the posh KDA Township. They added that garbage dumps were scattered everywhere, making their lives miserable.

The people said that MPA Ziaullah Bangah had directed the authorities concerned to utilise the funds lying with the KDA administration to provide water to residents by purchasing extra pumps, but his orders were not implemented.

They said that roads in Kohat city were in bad shape and drains were clogged, giving stinking smell.

They pointed out that no attempt had been made during the last twenty years to clear the drains of dirt.

The residents asked the municipal authorities to remove filth from drains in phases if they could not do so in one go as the dirty water posed health hazardous. They said that during rains dirty water overflowed on roads and streets.