MULTAN, Dec 7: All disposal pumps in the city have outlived their usefulness and are required to be replaced.
Around 30 disposal pumps were installed at different places in Multan in 1980 with a life span of 10 years.
Of them, eight were installed at Suraj Miani disposal station, five at Chungi No 9, three at Kiri Jammanda, six at Vehari Road and two each at Chowk Kumhara and old Shujaabad disposal stations.
Frequent repairs of the outdated pumps have created cracks in sewerage pipes from various places which inundate different localities.
The worst-hit are the low-lying areas like Old Shujaabad Road, Hafiz Jammal Road and Old Khanewal bus stand where the sewerage water remain stagnant for most part of the year.
Since the Multan’s population has swelled over the years, it needs further installation of sewerage pumps besides replacing urgently the old ones.
The Wasa is spending a huge amount of Rs7 million annually on the repair of sewerage disposal pumps, but the authority has declared its functioning as unsatisfactory.
When contacted, Wasa deputy director Qasim Khan said the authority was already under financial crunch and was unable to arrange Rs90 million to replace the old pumps.
He held the citizens responsible for this sorry state of affairs as majority of them did not pay Wasa bills.
Mr Khan hoped the situation might be improved in the future for Punjab governor Khalid Maqbool in his last visit to Multan had indicated to extend financial support to Wasa.
FOUR DIE: Road accidents in and around the city during the last 24 hours claimed four lives.
A car (LHO-2876) was on its way to Multan from Abdul Hakim when it collided head-on with a wagon (131-911) near Sadiqabad Mill in Qadirpur Rawan police limits on Thursday evening. Three car occupants Siraj, Yaseen and Aslam died instantly while Rana Asghar, Jahanzeb and Farooq sustained injuries. They were admitted to the Fatima Hospital.
Police have registered a case against the absconding driver.
On Friday, Muhammad Tufail was hit by a wagon near Shahidan Chowk when he was crossing the road.
He was taken to the Nishtar Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.