Wasa’s selected approach hits Fazal Town residents

Rawalpindi

Thanks God, work on the long-awaited sewerage and water system of Shah Khalid Colony is almost complete and work on the Tajabad street sewerage system is being done with a proverbial speed.

Ramazan Ali, a former security force guy, says: “If there was hell anywhere, it’s here. We looked up to our representative in the local government to change the worsening scenario, and he did not disappoint us.

For the better part of his tenure, he was busy negotiating with the high-ups indulging in a soft talk with them and ultimately he succeeded. We salute him from the core of our heart.” “The work has provided relief not only to the people residing in the colony, but also to the residents of adjoining localities from the off and on overflowing of filthy sewage on the service road running along  all these areas. These nearby neighbourhoods are directly linked with the service road which often remained blocked due to dirty water spilling over from Shah Khalid Colony and Tajabad sewerage,” adds Ramazan

“This area is to all appearances a pretty ordinary, not to say humdrum locality, but it’s achieved notoriety. The civic authority did not wake up earlier to the lack of development here. Had it woken up, people could have some respite,” says Tanvir Hasan, a government employee living in the area.

“Anyway, the late, the better, the menace of overflowing sewage water on service road from the storm water drain would also come to an end as a result of which, people residing along the road who off and on faced the problem of overflowing , would get relief,” adds Tanvir.

“Who knows when the same work will begin in Fazal Town Phase-I, where potable water and smooth streets are still a dream; aged sewerage system has now started damaging the houses of residents as its worn-out inner walls have allowed sewerage dirty water seep into the foundation of the houses.

Salahuddinn Street No. III has borne the brunt of the indifference of Wasa. Sandwiched between Shah Khalid Colony-Tajabad and Faisal Colony, it seems it’s not part of the city,” says Haider Zaman.

Every morning, Afzal Hussain, a retired PAF officer, is glued to the cell phone to fetch a water tanker from Shaheen Town community tap that the area residents have got installed after great struggle. “What development is the city government bragging about,” he wonders.

“Every leader gives us a lollipop during poll time. Once they are elected, they never come back. Winning candidates should be withdrawn midway by their parties if they fail to perform,” Afzal adds bitterly, impatient to take a hard-earned tanker-full of water back home.

Afzal’s neighbour, Ali Quli Khan, says. “While in Shah Khalid Colony Wasa has got some work done in the colony’s bazaar and also in Tajabad street, it is surprising that Wasa gets work done only in selected areas.”

“The Wasa team working in the above-mentioned area asked us to contact the concerned councillor. When we contacted the councillor he said that he has already put up our case with the higher authorities. “I don’t know who is scuttling my efforts,” he added.

“During the election days, the voters’ hopes soared when the area councillor jumped into the fray and defeated the opponent by a huge margin of votes, announcing that he would develop his own area as a model constituency but we still await good times,” says Munawwar Hussain.