SHANGLA: Residents of Bisham city have demanded of the authorities to widen and cover the main drain along the Karakoram Highway in the urban area as stagnant water has become a breeding place for mosquitoes, causing spread of malaria among the locals.
In this regard, the local elders and traders have submitted a written application to the deputy commissioner and commissioner Malakand seeking immediate action.
Talking to reporters on Monday, Guldad Khan, a village nazim, said the drain had long been blocked, and after their repeated protests and meetings with authorities concerned, the Frontier Works Organisation had removed the upper slabs used as footpath with a view to widening the drain.
However, he regretted that since then no further work took place and the drain had become a breeding place for mosquitoes.
Hamid-ur-Rehman, the trade union president, said due to absence of footpath and cleaning of the drain the residents were suffering.
Syed Jamshid Ali Shah, a resident of Bisham, said the open drain along the highway was spreading malaria among the residents.
The drain should be covered as soon as possible, demanded Dr Sanaullah, deputy medical superintendent, tehsil headquarters hospital, Bisham.
The locals threatened to block the KKH if the drain was not widened and covered within a month.
BAN IMPOSED: The tehsil administration on Monday issued a notification imposing ban on stray cattle roaming in the Bisham Bazaar and causing trouble to the residents.
According to the notification issued by the tehsil municipal officer, the decision was taken on public complaints.
The TMA’s enforcement officer, Ghayoor Khan, said they had instructed the public that the cattle roaming the streets even after the order was imposed would be taken into custody and won’t be handed back to the owners.
He said the ban would ensure smooth flow of traffic in the Bisham Bazaar.
