Managing waste: Peshawar’s sewage system going down the drain

The Express Tribune

The sewage system of Peshawar is in dire need of restructuring and proper maintenance, but for the elected representatives the issue has remained on the back burner for the past decade. The 19th century Shahi Khata drainage system is still intact albeit in a debilitated state. It is now barely able to carry all the sewage water from the inner parts of the city, where the population has substantially increased. Moreover, the three different portions made for drainage purposes in Shahi Khata are barely functioning. And with accumulation of dirt in the pipelines with little or no maintenance, residents of the walled city complain that the system is not tending to the increasing drainage needs of Peshawar. Sewerage water from most parts of the city, including areas around the City Circular Road drain into Shahi Khata, which is unable to accommodate all the water, especially during rain. The Shahi Khata system runs through the Bala Mari, Asia Gate, Kakshal, Sher Shah Suri Bridge, Firdous Cinema Chowk areas before going through the Afghan Colony and finally draining the water into the Budhni stream. “In the past, governments have constructed faulty sewerage lines in various localities, due to which several areas are now left with permanently clogged pipelines,” said an elder from Eshrat Cinema Road, Ali Jahangir Khan. A major sewage line, laid in 1996 for those residing in the eastern part of the city, running through areas of Shaikabad, Gulbhar-I and Gulbhar-II, Asad Anwar Colony, Afrido Ghari, Akhunabad and Peshawar Fruit Marker is also obsolete. Another sewage line starts from the city area of tehsil Gorghatri and goes through Karim Pura, Hashtnagri, Shahi Bagh and some parts of Charsadda Road. This too, like the two others, drains into the Budhni stream. Residents of these areas face surmounting problems in the rainy season when the Budhni stream overflows, resulting in filthy water flowing onto the streets outside their homes. A resident of City Town area, Rahimullah Shah complains: “The whole area turns into a huge puddle, which serves as a breeding ground for insects and germs.” The number of workers responsible for cleaning sewage lines of the 25 city union councils is not more than 180, of which around 40 employees are consistently absent from duty. The leader of representative body of local government employees, the United Municipal Workers Union, Salahuddin Chava said most of the cleaning staff are constantly absent, but still get salaries. He accused them of working for elected representatives and other high-profile government officials instead of showing up for duty. Town Municipal Officer Javed Amjid also complained of faulty sewerage lines. He, however, blames the burgeoning growth of residential towns in the surrounding areas of Peshawar. “In the last ten years, dozens of small residential towns have been developed without any proper planning for their sewerage system.” “There is a need for systematic planning to deal with the sewerage issue and to fix faulty lines,” Amjid said, adding that the town municipal administration is doing its best with the meagre resources at its disposal.