KARACHI, Jan 12: Residents in some parts of the Baldia Town are passing their lives in highly non-conducive conditions for the last some time as far as amenities and environmental standards are concerned.
Residents of the years' old colony, multi-ethnic in nature and comprising largely of the low income group, claimed there were some areas, which had not received piped-water for the last 8-10 years.
While, in some parts, drinking water was seen oozing out of the dilapidated lines, forming water pools here and there and causing difficulties for pedestrians and the traffic.
During a visit to the area on Wednesday, journalists accompanying the Adviser to chief minister on Environment, Noman Saigol, were told by the area people that waterborne and airborne diseases were on the rise in the area of Saeedabad, Lasi Para, Shah Faisal, Awan Chowk, Rangar Para, Qadafi Colony, and other adjacent areas due to the utter neglect of the sanitary staff and municipal managers concerned.
Stagnant sewerage water, garbage burning, uneven and dusty roads and streets, leakage of water mains laid down parallel to sewerage lines and mixing of potable water with sewage were issues, which needed to be addressed on priority basis.
Taking notice of the amenity situation, and continued degradation of environment in the vicinity, Mr Saigol said the environment department and the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency would move the authorities concerned, including the local government, for remedial measures.
We would also apprise the chief minister, prime minister and the president about the people's plight and neglect of civic agencies. He said that areas like Orangi Town, Mauripur, Baldia Town and some others presented a pathetic picture of the amenity and health sectors.
Though SEPA is short of staff, efforts should be made to make the agencies concerned rise to the occasion, as adequate amenities and safe environment are the basic rights of the citizens.
He referred to the presence of industrial activities, cattle pens and other commercial activities undertaken unabated in the residential areas of the city, and mentioned that SEPA would issue notices to those involved in violating environmental laws and causing pollution and environmental degradation.
He said that SEPA would also be undertaking survey of cattle pens in residential areas, so they could be eliminated from the human population. The adviser asked SEPA officials, S.M. Yahya and Irfanullah Tunio, who accompanied him during the visit, to get the results of samples collected at the earliest and issue notices to all concerned.
Residents in Lasi Para, Sector-5 of Baldia Town, said they were highly affected due to the unattended garbage dumps, broken roads, and pits in streets. Citizens in Shah Faisal and Kojan Colony said they were provided with a tanker of water for every five houses once in a month.
It was further said that water traders were also exploiting the situation as piped-water or water from tankers was not adequately available for the population.
The main road of Baldia (Graveyard road) used by most of the public and private transporters was in very critical condition. Residents said that the construction works on the road was launched by the area nazim in Oct 2003, but not a single inch of road had yet been constructed.
The worst part of the development was that due to digging of land for water project, the entire area had got sick of the dusty air. The dust-filled air was causing respiratory problems and allergy cases had also increased, complained citizens.