RATODERO:The 75% residents of this ever growing town, Ratodero, have been deprived of safe drinking water as the subsoil water is salty and unworthy of human consumption.
The population of this town is estimated to be over 150,000. In this connection, a team of World Health Organization (WHO) visited this town in 2005-06 and obtained underground water samples. After analyzing water samples at reputable laboratories, they reported that the water used by residents of three parts of the town is unhygienic and unfit for human consumption.
Previously Faryal Talpur was twice elected MNA and now she has been replaced by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and she is MPA of this constituency but they have done nothing as yet to provide healthy drinking water to their voters. The residents have been forced to procure water daily at Rs 20 per gallon like vegetables and other essential food items because without water they will be unable to survive. If the family is large then each house has to spend Rs 120 or more daily just for purchasing safe drinking water but those who cannot afford to pay for water like labourers are using contaminated water which has infected them with deadly stomach ailments, kidney failures and Hepatitis putting their precious live in danger.
Water supply scheme was approved during first term of PPP at the cost of Rs 12 crore which was inaugurated by Faryal Talpur but it could not be made functional even for a single day and the citizens could not drink even a single glass of water out of it. It is alleged that massive corruption was made in the scheme which was executed by Public Health Engineering Department. Substandard pipeline was laid which broke out when water was released submerging roads and streets. After two years another two crore rupees were released but instead of replacing pipes the authorities repaired the pipes by digesting taxpayer’s funds but it also did not work. Eight motors were installed at Water Supply Scheme established at Qadu Wah on Naundero-Ratodero Road along with turbine but soon four motors were stolen but due to non-serious attitude of the.concerned authorities even two pole mounted transformers were also stolen which have not yet been recovered. Cost of each motor was Rs five lakh. It is learnt that after repeated complaints and constant media reports notice has recently been taken and an amount of Rs 5 million has been released to Ratodero municipal committee to procure new motors and repair pipeline.
According to sources, the amount has been withdrawn but work has neither yet been launched nor water supply scheme has been started. On the advice of local PPP leaders, it is further alleged, water tanks were constructed in ten localities of Ratodero which were painted with colours of party flag but they also remained dysfunctional thus no serious efforts were made at the highest level to provide safe drinking water to the citizens of Ratodero and resolve the issue once for all.
The residents have already been deprived of jobs and development since last over 11 years but they have also been denied life as water is called life. Will Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari take serious notice of this life and death issue of his voters, is yet to be seen.