MINGORA: Residents and local government representatives in Malookabad union council here on Sunday deplored that the local bodies had failed to resolve public issues.

Speaking at a meeting, they pointed out that the water shortage had been one of the main problems the union council was facing, but the local government did not address the issue. They said they were also deprived of gas facility and power supply.

“About 70 per cent of the population of the union council has no access to clean drinking water for which we knocked at every door and requested the LG representatives, but to no avail,” Khan Maula, an elder, regretted.

The residents also complained that despite their area was in Mingora town over 90 per cent of people had no access to natural gas.

“We have made several rounds of the local SNGPL office, requesting officials to improve the gas pressure, but to no avail,” Saifullah Khan, another resident, complained.

The residents pointed out that majority of the people were settled in the mountains where they had no electricity supply. “We do not have electricity poles near our houses, and have taken power connections from long distances due to which we face low voltage problem. The LG representatives promised to resolve the issue but failed,” local Abdullah resented.

Speaking on the occasion, the LG representatives complained that the provincial government had not only cut their funds but also clipped their powers.

Youth councillor Sher Ali Khan said he was disappointed with the provincial government which ignored youth and sportsmen completely.

Fazal Jalal, a former nazim, said the people had great expectations from the LG system introduced by the PTI, but it proved a complete failure.

Replying to the complaints, district councillor Khadim Shah claimed that the electricity problem had been resolved while the gas issue would soon be resolved as work on new pipelines was underway. Yousaf Ali, the tehsil councillor, said the Water and Sanitation Services Company (WSSC) had failed to keep the area clean.

“The union council had 11 sanitary staff, which the WSSC took to Mingora Bazaar. The sanitation staff comes to the union council for only one hour due to which the area remains full of garbage,” he deplored.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2018