Dawn Report

LAHORE, Aug 23: A sewage drain originating from Ghaffar Chowk near Shaukat Khanum Hospital has become a source of trouble for Wapda Town residents.

Laid some six years ago on the route of Khamba distributary, the small drain was meant to carry waste water from the cancer hospital and the adjacent Jauhar Town block to the Sattokatla drain. Over the years, sewage and storm water from Iqbal Avenue and PIA schemes were also discharged into the drain.

The drain spills over whenever storm water is released into it and inundates adjacent streets of Wapda Town’s D-3, E-2 and F-2 blocks, causing inconvenience to residents and damage to constructions.

The drain’s construction is also faulty in terms of quality and design. It is three feet above the ground level whereas, according to experts, a drain should flow below the ground level to avoid inundation. The wastewater also seeps through its walls because of substandard construction. The affected residents of Wapda Town have urged the LDA director general and the Wasa managing director to look into the matter.

According to them, the drain which is hardly five-foot wide should be covered and its walls be plastered. Moreover, it should be ensured that waste is discharged into the drain according to its capacity.