The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) has failed to drain out rainwater from its own Officers’ Colony in Faisalabad, where residences of its officials remained inundated following heavy monsoon showers.
Residents shared videos on social media highlighting what they called poor planning and ineffective arrangements during the last one and a half months of the monsoon season.
A resident of Gulistan Colony claimed in a viral video that rainwater from the WASA Officers’ Colony had been diverted into the streets of B-Block Gulistan Colony, causing problems for commuters and pedestrians.
He also showed the flooded streets and submerged residences of officers, where water had entered homes despite the colony being sealed off with iron gates.
When contacted, WASA Deputy Managing Director Ikram Ullah said that an official had resorted to pumping water into the adjacent streets because his own residence had been inundated and there was no other immediate solution.
He added that the administration had taken notice of the issue, directed the removal of the illegally installed pipe and deployed heavy machinery to drain rainwater from both Gulistan Colony and the WASA Officers’ Colony.
Meanwhile, WASA’s Public Relations Cell issued a statement, saying Managing Director Sohail Qadir Cheema visited several locations, including Akbarabad Chowk, Iqbal Stadium, Nisar Akbar Chowk, Manawala Club Road, Sargodha Road Lasani Pul and Kohinoor Chowk, to monitor drainage operations.
He said machinery was being used extensively for the rapid removal of rainwater and most ponding points, including General Hospital Samanabad, LCM School, and major intersections, had been cleared.
He said field staff were working round the clock to remove water from the remaining low-lying areas.
Senior WASA officers accompanied the MD during his inspection.
According to official data, the highest rainfall of 77mm was recorded in Allama Iqbal Colony, followed by 73mm in Ghulam Muhammad Abad, 72mm in Dogar Basti, 71mm on Jail Road and 44mm in Madina Town.
Officials said drainage teams were mobilised as soon as the rain started in the morning.
