MULTAN, July 31: Sewage gushing out of choked pipelines has inundated roads and streets in several area of the city and created a great deal of inconvenience for the locals. These chocked pipelines are also a serious health threat as sewage is mixing into water supply lines.

The worst affected localities are Chungi No. 9, Chungi No. 7, Dehli Gate, Chungi No. 14, Manzoorabad, Mehboobabad, Faizi Road, Jalilabad, Lakar Mandi Morr, Khawja Colony, Dera Basti, Chah Amb Wala, Tughlaq Road, Ansari Chowk, Lohari Gate, Farooqabad, Andoon Bohar Gate, Shaheen Market, Jamilabad, Latifabad, Bilal Chowk, Timber Market and Allah Wasya Chowk. On Bosan Road, one would see that Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) staff had dumped the waste along the road.

Criticising the district administration and Wasa over the problem, Nafees Ahmed Ansari, a member of the Punjab Assembly from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said the Wasa managing director should help solve the problem immediately.

Residents of Chah Amb Wala have complained about the stagnant water. “We cannot sit in our houses due to the foul smell of the sewage and we cannot go out because sewage has inundated streets and roads,” said Ghulam Abbas from Mehboobabad. He said flies, insects and mosquitoes were spreading diseases.

Wasa Managing Director Dr Javed Iqbal said the government had allocated Rs3.5 billion for the replacement of all old sewerage pipelines in the city and that the project would be completed in three years.

Naib City District Nazim Syed Wajid Ali Shah said Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi had released funds for a new sewerage system in Multan. He said that Wasa teams were being sent to affected areas.

WASA: The Punjab government has provided funds for the replacement of 150-kilometre rusty sewerage pipelines of Multan city, Wasa Managing Director Dr Javed Iqbal said at a press briefing here on Tuesday.