PESHAWAR: Peshawar’s sewage crisis is a severe problem with far-reaching effects on the city and its people.
The primary reason of this issue is the obstruction of sewage pipes brought on by the buildup of toxic sludge from Peshawar’s heavily inhabited regions.
The inadequate sewerage system has left the populace vulnerable to life-threatening waterborne diseases.
Rapid urbanization, particularly in densely populated inner-city areas like Shahdhand, Ganj, and Kohati, which low-income people predominately occupy, is primarily to blame for the overflow of sewage channels.
Shahdhand, a locality adjacent to the relatively well-planned and affordable area of Gulbahar in the provincial metropolis, has been rendered barren due to extensive mud excavation, mainly directed toward brick kilns on Phandu and Kohat roads.
The rise in urbanization, driven by an influx of people from suburban areas seeking employment, educational institutions, healthcare services, and improved economic prospects, has given rise to many challenges, particularly in sewerage.
The primary issue in the locality is the ongoing deterioration of sanitation conditions due to rapid urbanization and the insufficiency of sanitation services. The aged and corroded water pipes in areas like Gunj, Kohati, Sikandar Town, Deh Bahadur, Nauthia Qadeem, and Nauthia Jadeed have exposed the residents of Peshawar to waterborne diseases. There is an urgent demand for their immediate replacement.
Dr. Malik Riaz Khan, a senior medical officer at the government hospital in Pabbi Nowshera, highlights the health hazards associated with poor sanitation and contaminated water resulting from urbanization. Waterborne diseases such as diarrhea, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis A pose significant risks, especially to children and the elderly.
Dr. Khan mentions that approximately 60% of infant and child deaths are attributed to diarrhea, and the fatality rate for cholera is 25-50%. Furthermore, every 16 minutes, a person dies from hepatitis, often due to the consumption of unsafe water in Pakistan.
He references a research study by UNICEF, supported by the Government of Pakistan, in 2020. The study identifies rapid population growth as a critical driver of water and sanitation challenges in the country. Pakistan is the sixth most populous nation globally, with a 2% annual population growth rate. Investments in water and sanitation services have struggled to keep up with the surging population and expanding cities.
The proportion of Pakistanis residing in urban areas has surged significantly, from 17.7% in 1951 to 36.4% in 2017. This shift has brought about unmanaged urbanization and a compromised sewerage system.
Hassan Khan, a spokesperson for Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), points out that high-rise buildings lack proper sewerage mechanisms, resulting in water overflow in street channels and flooding in houses.
“Encroachments in water channels also exacerbate the challenges of rapid and unplanned urbanization, disrupting the already fragmented sewerage infrastructure and causing various problems,” he added.
He said the proliferation of microbial contamination in sewage has further exacerbated the situation, leading to health-related hazards such as typhoid, gastric diseases, and hepatitis.
Sawal Nazir Khan, the caretaker minister for rural development, states that the KP Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP) has been initiated to provide clean drinking water, a pleasant environment, and quality sewerage services to the people.
The project aims to revamp the existing dilapidated drainage system, enhancing sewerage and stormwater management while preventing flooding in KP cities.
The government of KP, with financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Asian Investment and Infrastructure Bank, is executing multiple projects, including KPCIP, in five divisional headquarters: Peshawar, Mardan, Mingora, Abbottabad, and Kohat.
These projects aim to enhance livability and community health by constructing clean water and sewerage treatment facilities and rehabilitating dysfunctional tube wells. An integrated waste management system will also be established in major cities to ensure the safe collection, transportation, segregation, and scientific disposal of waste in sanitary landfill cells.
The projects will involve installing flow meters, supervisor control, and data acquisition (SCADA) systems to ensure water quality and better sanitation services. Rusted pipes will be replaced with leak-proof water supply lines, addressing the issue of water leakage.
The initiatives launched by the government, such as the KP Cities Improvement Project, offer hope for a brighter and healthier future for the residents of Peshawar and other urban centers in Pakistan. —APP
