Bahawalpur:
A large throughput road in Bahawalpur has become a virtual wastewater drain that causes distress among residents and raises questions about the integrity of a public rupie project with millions of rupees.
Yazman Road, especially the stretch in front of the Islami Colony, has been flooded with stagnant wastewater due to failure in a newly installed drainage system.
The resulting poor stench and unsanitarian conditions have troubled residents who fear a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases.
According to government sources, that area faced similar sewer problems almost 18 months ago.
To tackle the problem, the authorities approved a high -price development scheme that included the determination of new sewer pipes and the reconstruction of the road. However, the effort seems to have been in vain.
Sub-Engineer Mudassar, earlier with Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and now published in District Council, revealed that the project was awarded Madina Construction Company, reportedly owned by Bilal Randhawa, an SDO published in the public health department.
“The project was deficient from the start,” Mudassar said. “Even after completion, wastewater could not flow properly through the installed pipes. The only reason the system worked temporarily was due to extensive cleaning at that time.”
He also claimed that there was little attention to critical technical details during the construction process, which led to a complete collapse of the system again.
Residents of Islami Colony and nearby neighborhoods have expressed frustration over the passivity of local authorities.
“Senior government officers travel this route daily, yet they ignore the open drainage just below the nose,” said a local resident.
Despite repeated complaints, no action has been taken against neither the contractor nor the public health officials who are responsible for the failed project.
The locals have appealed to the authorities to intervene immediately. They not only require the urgent repair of the road and the drainage system, but also strict lawsuits against the officials and contractors responsible for the subordinate work.
“The whole area suffers because of their negligence. We need accountability, not just ruined promises,” added a resident.
