KARACHI, Nov 11: The multiplying civic problems, overshadowed by the ongoing political wrangling, have again surfaced in many parts of the city.

It clearly indicates that the existing local bodies system introduced with the sole objective of providing basic facilities at the grassroots level is not working satisfactorily.

A simmering water crisis in Baldia, SITE, Keamari, Lyari Towns and other parts of the city has already forced the people to take to the streets.

Another cause for concern is the defective sewerage and garbage disposal system, which has led to stinking conditions in most of the localities.

The residents cite negligence of civic officials as one of the key factors for the failure of the system, while the Town officials maintain that shortage of manpower and non-availability of vehicles create problems for them.

A survey of several localities shows a dismal sanitary condition with heaps of garbage lying unattended in many areas, particularly in the former districts West and South, creating unhygienic conditions.

According to the residents, sanitary workers do not attend their duties regularly, as a result of which heaps of garbage are found littered everywhere, making life miserable for the common man.

Nearly 350 tons of garbage is generated daily in every Town and it appears that the Town administrations have either insufficient resources to handle them or there is a lack of management capacity.

The situation in some parts of the Towns is worsening due to choked gutter-lines, resulting in flooding of sewage on to streets and roads, creating traffic hurdles and stinking conditions in the locality.

Traffic on Shah Latif Bhittai Road in Lyari Town has always remained disrupted due to accumulated sewage on the road resulting from choked sewers.

Some time ago, the residents took to the streets against the frequent accumulation of sewage, which created stinking conditions.

The residents blame the authorities for not taking proper steps for maintenance of drainage system. They say that misuse of open drains, constant breakdowns of pumping stations and shortage of sanitary workers are some of the factors leading to sewage overflows.

They are of the view that as Lyari Town falls below the sea level and sewerage system is based on pumping stations and ejectors, constant power failures always results in flooding of roads and streets. The residents called for a permanent solution to the problem.

Due to faulty sewerage lines, some areas have been receiving contaminated water for quite a long time and the KWSB officials have failed to rectify the fault responsible for supply of filthy water to certain parts of the Town.

The sewerage system in many parts of Keamari, Baldia, Site and Saddar Towns is outdated, which needs overhauling. The residents of these localities have always demanded replacement of the old sewerage system.