Residents of Patel Para Bijli Ground plead for action as sewage crisis disrupts life

Residents of Patel Para Bijli Ground are facing sewage and other civic problems. Dialogue Pakistan under its initiative of Karachi Aisa Nahi Tha visited the area to highlight the issues. 

Talking to DP team, residents said the condition has been ongoing for around 10–12 days since Eid. The drainage system was blocked. There was some rainfall, which caused the water to overflow, and the situation has since worsened.

Residents said a local representative from the Pakistan Peoples Party has arranged machinery, and work is underway. People from PTI are also expected to start their work. For us, it does not matter who carries out the work—PPP, PTI, or Jamaat-e-Islami—we just want relief for our area.

There is a mosque here, and it had become extremely difficult for people to access it. Work has started now, but for 10 to 15 days people have been living in these conditions.

Residents further said road has been filled with sewage water even before the rains. Anyone who comes here risks falling. It is extremely difficult. We have stopped using this route altogether. During prayers, there are separate arrangements for women and children, but even then it is very challenging.

For ten days, the water level was so high that even standing here was impossible. Children study here daily, and accessing the mosque has been very difficult. Travelling by motorbike was nearly impossible. Even alternative routes were flooded.

Residents say that the clean water supply now smells of sewage, or they fear it is contaminated. When asked about complaints, officials stated that they had contacted the relevant sewage department, and work is currently underway underground.