LAHORE: Johar Town has been facing severe difficulties due to the delay in replacing the existing trunk sewer line and upgrading the allied sewerage system.
For the past 15 days, one side of the six-lane Kyaban-i-Fridausi (Johar Town’s main boulevard) has been closed, causing traffic congestion and inconvenience to motorists.
The 40-year-old trunk sewer line has encountered repeated issues, with four ruptures occurring, including two incidents on Friday and Saturday nights.
According to sources, these ruptures have disrupted wastewater drainage and water supply intermittently.
The residents have expressed frustration over the government’s apparent negligence in resolving the sewerage system problems.
Despite raising the issue with relevant authorities multiple times since 2020, no concrete action has been taken.
In 2020, Wasa proposed rehabilitating the sewerage system and replacing the aging trunk sewer line, but the government allocated funds for other projects instead.
Furthermore, the requests for funds in subsequent years were also deferred, resulting in ongoing disruptions to the water supply in the area.
Currently, WASA is working on a bypass for the existing line to ensure timely wastewater drainage and prevent further rupture-related issues.
However, the long-term solution lies in laying a new trunk sewer line, a matter the government has yet to address.
In response to the situation, the Secretary of Housing, Urban Development, and Public Health Engineering Department stated that a summary requesting Rs. 1.3 billion funds for the trunk sewer replacement have been sent to the government for approval.
Source: DAWN
