BATTAGRAM: Municipal services remain dysfunctional in the Battagram city as the civic body lacks funds, resulting in clogged drains, filth strewn across streets and solid waste accumulated in the main bazaar.

Residents and traders complained that drains were clogged in almost all parts of the Battagram Bazaar, while the tehsil municipal administration seemed uninterested in launching a cleanliness drive.

Samiullah Khan, a social and political activist, said that whenever it rained, the poor drainage system was exposed. However, the authorities concerned have not taken any measures to rectify and overhaul the system, he lamented.

Abdul Ghaffar Deshani, the trade union president, pointed out that choked drains and heaps of garbage on roads and lanes created a terrible smell throughout the area. He said they repeatedly requested the local government representatives to direct TMA officials to launch a cleanliness drive, but to no avail.

Residents complain drains in main bazaar clogged, filth strewn across streets

The drains in the Jajmai Bazaar and Pump Bazaar areas have also been blocked for long, causing foul smell.

When contacted, tehsil municipal officer Mohammad Ismail told Dawn that due to a shortage of sanitary staff, they were facing hardships in cleanliness activities in the area.

He added that they had only eight sanitary workers in TMA, who were responsible for providing services in Battagram, Kuzabanda, Gesol and Thakot bazaars, excluding neighbourhood councils. This, he claimed made it impossible for them to reach every point and provide timely services.

Mr Ismail further said that despite the staff shortage, they were providing sanitary services in Battagram Bazaar daily. “However, they are also facing a shortage of funds. TMA is in debt to a local petrol pump, which amounts to around Rs3 million. Sometimes, the pump stops supplying fuel to vehicles due to delayed payments,” he said.

The TMO explained that TMA Battagram generated only Rs1.6 million per month through different taxes from the vegetable and cattle markets and rented shops. “However, the employees’ salaries amount to Rs5 million.”

“We usually try to manage the salaries of sweepers and other sanitary workers from our own revenue sources on a routine basis, while other staff members wait for the provincial grant,” TMO Ismail said, adding that they recently received a grant of Rs9 million for payment of salaries. “However, the December salary is still pending.”

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2025