Johar Town Residents Warn of Protests if Water Supply is Not Restored by Friday

LAHORE: The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has assured residents of Johar Town that the water supply will be fully restored by Friday.

However, the agency acknowledged that the tube wells in the area have been operating on reduced timings in recent days.

The announcement from Wasa comes in response to growing concerns from Johar Town residents, who have threatened to stage protest demonstrations if the water supply is not restored to all blocks by Friday.

According to sources, the disruption in the water supply was caused by a rupture in the sewer line at Khayaban-e-Firdausi.

Residents of Johar Town’s J-2 Block have reported being without water for the past four days and are urging authorities to take immediate action.

In addition, the frustration is mounting among residents, with some highlighting the inconvenience of not being able to take a bath for several days.

They also expressed skepticism over Wasa’s claims of running tube wells for a limited time or providing water tankers, stating that there has been no relief for them.

Similar complaints have been raised by residents in other blocks of Johar Town, with demands for accountability and potential suspensions of senior Wasa officials.

The sinkhole that appeared near the LDA complex in Johar Town due to the sewer line rupture has further complicated the situation, leading to the suspension of water supply and wastewater drainage in the area.

Moreover, Wasa field teams are currently working to address the issue, and repairs are expected to be completed by Friday morning.

Wasa has highlighted that the trunk sewer in question is 40 years old and in need of replacement.

The agency has submitted a project proposal worth R. s1.3 billion to the government for the replacement of the sewer line but is awaiting approval.

Besides, the occurrence of sinkholes is attributed to factors such as underground water infiltration and erosion, as well as substandard infrastructure work.

Source: DAWN