HYDERABAD, April 16: Residents and shopkeepers of units 2, 4, 5 and 6 of Latifabad blocked the main road in unit 2 near the Shah Bhittai Hospital on Saturday to protest against delay in completion of a sewerage project.

The protesters also burnt tyres.

They lashed out at authorities for delaying execution of the scheme under the Hyderabad Greater Sewerage Project for several years.

They said they were facing hardships due to accumulation of sewage in the area and said it was difficult to wade through stagnant dirty water on the road.

They said Eid Milladun Nabi was approaching but the authorities were least concerned about the problem though Eid Milladun Nabi procession would pass through the area.

The protesters raised slogans against Wasa authorities and officials associated with the sewerage project.

The project director, Kafeel Ahmad, executive engineer, Latifabad, and other officials rushed to the spot and pacified the protesters. They said some technical problems had caused the delay in execution of the scheme but added that efforts were being made to complete the scheme as soon as possible.

Mr Ahmad said the sewage line’s work had been completed in the area but another line busted in the same locality which had caused accumulation of dirty water. He said the line was being repaired.

NAZIM REMOVED: The Sindh government on Saturday issued a notification of removal of District Nazim Dr Makhdoom Rafiquzzaman and his deputy, Nawab Rashid Ali Khan.

It was learnt that DCO Mohammad Hussain Syed informed the district nazim by telephone that he had been removed from the office in the wake of creation of three new districts in Hyderabad.

District council convener Mr Khan was also removed.

The DCO and EDOs of finance and revenue were given additional charges of the three new districts.

Dr Rafiquzzaman told Dawn by telephone: “In fact, I remained the district nazim of four districts between April 4 and 16 and finally a notification has been delivered to me at my residence”.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim had announced creation of the new districts on April 4 in Karachi.