Post-rain situation in coastal areas

Poor sanitation system wreaks havoc as low-lying localities inundated

Friday, July 09, 2010
By our correspondent

Karachi

The poor sanitation system in coastal localities has wreaked havoc in the low-lying areas of Keamari and Bin Qasim towns in the aftermath of the recent monsoon showers.

The situation has exposed the claims of local government institutions and the provincial authorities of having cleared chocked sewerage lines. Moreover, streets were flooded by rain water, while residents in many areas complained of receiving contaminated water.

Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) spokesperson on Thursday said they have collected information which reveals that in Keamari and Bin Qasim Towns, low-lying areas are flooded with chocked sewerage lines.

He said that despite complaints against the recently-built waterway flowing near Rehri from mountainous areas, the provincial and city government could not pay heed to improve it further. The storm waterway was carrying rainwater and sewerage into the sea smoothly, but the authorities built it without seeking prior consents of the locals.

As a result, the waterway could not receive rain water flow from nearby coastal villages. During the recent showers, area people broke the drainage wall from different areas to build makeshift outlet for rain water, which caused problem for the people of Rehri, because now they receive water flowing from upper parts.

Meanwhile, water shortage is still affecting the people living in coastal localities. Hundreds of fishing vessels can still be witnessed anchored along the local jetties because of a ban on fishing.

In this situation they can not afford to buy water for domestic use. Protest by residents of different neighbourhoods are reportedly being held on a daily basis, but, till yet, nobody from the authorities has come to listen to their grievances.
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