KARACHI, June 9: Sewage continues to overflow on a part of Shah Latif Bhittai Road and Haji Pir Mohammad Road and some other localities of Lyari Town for the past few days, making the roads impassable for motorists and pedestrians besides creating stinking conditions in the area.
According to residents, the constant overflow of sewage has badly hit part of Shah Bhittai Road near Baghdadi police station and Haji Pir Mohammad Road.
They said the stinking water had started draining into the adjoining areas creating unhygienic conditions and serious health hazards.
The constant sewage overflow has become a cause of concern not only for residents but also for students. The students have complained that the sewage often spoiled their cloths. The worst hit are those who go to the area mosque to offer prayers.
The area people say that due to the frequent power failures, the pumping stations are not operating regularly for the last many days as a result the overflowing sewage has started accumulating on roads and streets.
The residents blame the authorities for not taking proper steps to maintain the drainage system fully operational. They say that the reasons for the failure of the system are manifold.
But the major factors include lack of maintenance, misuse of open drains and constant breakdowns of pumping stations and shortage of sanitary workers.
They argue that since the area falls below the sea level and sewerage system is based on pumping stations and ejectors, constant power failure always results in flooding of roads and streets.
As a result, sewage overflows have become a permanent feature in the locality. They called for a permanent solution to the problem. A survey shows that there are scores of points where sewerage overflows have always been witnessed.
These are on Karabai Karimji Road, D.D. Chowdhary Road near Lea Market exchange, Mir Mohammad Baloch Road, Lyari Zonal Office, Milk Market near Lea Market roundabout, Fida Husain Shaika Road near Gul-i-Noor Grammar School, Chawkiwara Eidhgah near Ali Bagh, Gabol Park Road near Bright Public School and Shah Bhittai Road near Baghdadi police station.
Due to faulty sewerage lines, some areas have been receiving contaminated water for quite some time and the KWSB officials have failed to rectify the fault responsible for supply of contaminated water to certain parts of Lyari Town, including Baghdadi area.
The residents of the affected areas, including those of the Baghdadi, Fida Husain Shaika Road and the Saifi Lane, have complained that they have been getting stinking water, but the KWSB staff have failed to respond to their complaints.