The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) is constructing an illegal waste water disposal pipe in a public park of Sabza Zaar Society in which waste water will gather from a main sewerage pipe right next to a drinking water tube well, Pakistan Today has learnt.
The construction of sewerage disposal unit in the public park at Sector A of Sabza Zaar Society is a complete violation of PHA, LDA and WASA rules.
The park covers an area of 10 kannals. It is a beautiful respite for the public and has received a lot of funding over the years for its maintenance. At least Rs 200,000 have been spent only for the benches, leveling of the park and planting grass.
In the past, the area had had a shortage of drinking water. So with combined efforts of local residents, a tube well was installed for the supply of clean drinking water in 2012.
However, the residents reported that all of sudden, a tent was erected in the park by a contractor of the WASA, who revealed that a disposal pump will be installed in the park near the tube well for the disposal of waste water of the two union councils, number 111 and 112.
Residents expressed the fear that waste water, running alongside drinking water, will contaminate it. The poisonous water will be dumped in an open drain which is running from Scheme Mor to the main Kharak drain.
The project is in violation of The Pakistan Environmental Protection (PHA) Act 1997 and Parks and Horticultural Authority Act 2012.
As per law of PHA, “If a person contravenes any provision of the Act, he shall be liable to the punishment of imprisonment which may extend to six months or fine which may extend to Rs 500,000.”
According to the WASA Operational Director Aslam Khan, the location for disposal of the waste water is the “right choice.” He said that there is currently no open space for WASA to construct a disposal unit.
Talking to Pakistan Today, local resident Farhan Ahmad said, “This is a playground and it is against the law to use public parks for such type of work.”