Stray dogs, contaminated water, dirty drains and oxidation ponds have become a nightmare for residents.
LARKANA: Larkana, considered a political stronghold of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the constituency of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, continues to face a serious shortage of basic municipal facilities. Despite billions of rupees in development packages, special funds and repeated announcements of progress during decades of PPP rule, residents remain deprived of essential services, including proper drainage, clean drinking water, sanitation, stray dog control, covered manholes, traffic management and the removal of illegal encroachments. The situation has raised serious questions about the performance of municipal institutions and the district administration.
The growing population of stray and rabid dogs has become a serious threat to citizens. With the arrival of winter, fears of a rise in dog-bite incidents are also growing. Stray dog attacks have previously claimed several lives, including those of children. A woman also reportedly died after jumping into a canal to escape stray dogs. Despite this alarming situation, no effective or lasting measures appear to have been taken to address the problem.
Meanwhile, the city’s drainage system has deteriorated severely. Although drainage has long been a stated priority of the ruling PPP, Larkana still lacks a modern drainage and sewerage system. Sewage regularly accumulates near Miro Khan Chowk on the Larkana-Ratodero Road. Commuters struggle to get through, and traders find it difficult to carry on business. Stagnant sewage is also increasing the risk of mosquito breeding and the spread of disease.
According to residents, the quality of groundwater has also deteriorated to an alarming level. There are complaints that Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) in drinking water at certain locations have reached 1,300 to 1,800 mg/L, raising serious concerns about whether the water is safe to drink. Experts say excessive concentrations of dissolved salts and other substances may pose risks to human health.
Another major problem is the oxidation ponds near Mumtaz Colony, opposite the Mumtaz Police Check Post. Accumulated sewage, an unbearable stench and swarms of mosquitoes and flies have made life miserable for thousands of residents. In winter, the smell reportedly becomes so strong that residents find it difficult even to keep their doors and windows open. Residents say that although nearby housing has expanded, the ponds have neither been moved away from populated areas nor fitted with an effective wastewater treatment system.
Residents further claim that waste and wastewater from nearby cattle and buffalo pens also flow into the ponds, adding to the pollution. There are also concerns that untreated sewage may eventually reach the Rice Canal, threatening farmland, groundwater and public health. Residents have reported respiratory, skin, eye and stomach ailments.
Besides polluting the environment, the ponds have become a serious safety hazard. According to residents, several children have fallen into them while playing, and vehicles have also accidentally plunged into them. Despite these dangers, basic safety measures, including boundary walls, fencing, proper lighting and warning signs, are reportedly missing.
The pollution has also reportedly affected property values in Mumtaz Colony and nearby housing societies, with residents complaining that their properties have lost value.
Residents also say buffaloes frequently fall into open drains and stagnant sewage pools, causing financial losses for livestock owners.
These longstanding problems have come back into focus as Larkana’s Mayor attended the Sixth World Forum of Mayors in Geneva, Switzerland, held under the auspices of the United Nations. While representing the city at an international forum is certainly significant, residents believe that international representation must go hand in hand with practical efforts at home to ensure a clean environment, safe drinking water, an effective drainage system and basic municipal services.
Citizens have appealed to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, President Asif Ali Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, MPA Sardar Sohail Anwar Khan Siyal, MPA Jameel Ahmed Soomro, Larkana Mayor Anwar Ali Lohar and other authorities to take immediate notice of the situation.
They have demanded a modern drainage system, the relocation of the oxidation ponds away from residential areas, a modern wastewater treatment plant, regular laboratory testing and purification of drinking water, an effective campaign to control stray dogs, and immediate steps to cover open manholes and resolve other municipal problems.
Residents say Larkana’s development should not be limited to announcements, official meetings and international representation. Its real measure, they say, must be clean drinking water, a safe environment, better roads and essential civic facilities for the people. They say the time has come for the authorities to move beyond verbal commitments and take practical steps to permanently resolve the city’s longstanding problems.
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