Archive for June, 2009

Model Town residents getting contaminated water (Daily Times)

News Report:

* Residents blame corruption in sewage pipes’ installation
* MTS president denies charges of corruption

By Afnan Khan (www.dailytimes.com.pk)

Model Town Society (MTS) residents are being supplied contaminated water, and even that in limited supply, due to ongoing power cuts and a likely leakage in newly installed sewage pipes.

The residents have complained of a visible change in the colour and smell of water, which, they say, is a mix of sewer material. This has made the lives of residents difficult, as they cannot use water for cleaning and drinking.

The residents most affected are the residents of G, H and J blocks. The situation has deteriorated since the administration installed new sewage pipes in the location two months ago. People have complained to MTS authorities but in vain.

An H-Block resident Moeen told Daily Times that the people were so disturbed that they were planning to launch a protest inside the administration building.

“We have informed the MTS officials many a time but no one is paying heed to our complaints. Life has become a living hell due to this menace, as we have to purchase mineral water for drinking and have no alternative for bathing and washing,” he explained.

Moeen said tap water was so contaminated that its consumption was unimaginable. He said the residents were also facing a severe shortage of water due to load shedding.

“Though such water is useless anyway, the colour of water changes if the tube wells remain turned on for around an hour and this water can then be used only for plants and a few other things,” the resident added.

“We will go to the court or authorities concerned against the probable corruption in installation of sewage pipes, which is the root cause of the problem,” Moeen said.

President denies: MTS President Tahir Kardar told Daily Times that the authorities have already taken action and asked the concerned people to fix the problem. He said the installation of a new sewerage system was one of the key demands of the residents because the previous system was at least three decades old.

He said there was no possibility of embezzlement in the project because the authorities themselves monitored it and they would replace the old sewerage system with modern pipes throughout the locality very soon.

Kardar said the MTS authorities were planning to have independent power supply to cope with load shedding while they would soon build more overhead water tanks in different blocks to ensure continuous water supply to the residents.

perma Link:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=20096\25\story_25-6-2009_pg13_1

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PS: In the last para Newspaper is reporting MTS president Kardar as saying that MTS will soon build “more” overhead tanks to ensure continuous water supply.

But how Mr. kardar will built “more” overhead tanks, He can build first but not more !!! Since 1947 there had never been any overhead tanks in Model Town and since then residents never had water after 10 pm in winter (and 11 pm in summer)  till early morning (before fajr prayer). residents store their water for any night use, since ever.

And see what grade water we get in day time :(

Related posts:
“Model” Town May 28, 2007
Model Town Society’s New Year gift ! January 4, 2009


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Remembering Michael Jackson (tears)

Michael Jackson’s Hamd-e- Bari Taalah

Related:

www.michaeljackson.com

myplay.com/video-player/michael-jackson/who-is-it

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In the name of security

I (Ahmad Rafay Alam) asked a friend who lives in Washington DC whether the road outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – the address of the White House – is open to the public. I was told that part of it is closed to automobile traffic, but it is open to the public. My friend walks past the White House on her way to work every morning. There is no wall surrounding the White House. Only an iron grill through which America’s most popular public building can be seen. In London, visitors can stand by the entrance of the private road that leads to No 10 Downing Street. They can even catch a bus from the stop not a dozen yards away. The War on Terror these countries are engaged in is clearly not enough to justify the taking from their people their public space or public thoroughfares.

Where can one go to lament the great security land scam? Surely not the provincial government. Readers with good memory will recall how, back in the days Nawaz Sharif was chief minister of Punjab, he had erected a wall outside the small, triangular, park in front of his Model Town residence. It was used, if urban legend is to be believed, as a private cricket ground. The wall was torn down by order of later chief minister Manzur Wattoo. The ebbs and flows of our politics being what they are, the Sharifs are back and the officers actually charged with the responsibility of removing the wall have, if urban legend can be relied upon, still not been forgiven for their transgression.

A few weeks ago, on a cycle ride around Model Town, I noticed that the road outside the Sharif residences in Model Town had been cordoned off by a barrier. The small, triangular, park is still there, but it now serves the purpose of housing the many policemen responsible for the security of the compound. It no longer functions as a space for the public. A few days ago, while driving in Gulberg, I noticed that road outside Chief Minister Shabaz Sharif’s third wife’s house was also completely cordoned off. A cement pillbox, complete with gun-pointing sentry, now greeted me and the sentry waved me on to a small detour. The small park outside the residence of the Province’s First (Third?) Lady is now occupied by the little wooden cabins used by police. No sir, one can’t go to the Sharifs and expect a sympathetic ear when one’s public spaces are being eaten up in the name of security. The security land scam is complete.

The writer is an advocate of the high court and a member of the adjunct faculty at LUMS. He has an interest in urban planning. Email: ralam@nexlinx. net.pk

Click Here to read full text at TheNews

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Table Tennis (new purchase)

Table Tennis

(new purchase)
cost : 5500

great fun !

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delicious fruits, just one rain away.

mango

DoSahree


jaman

Update: after rain !

Home grown / Sun ripe !!!

related: Native Fruits in model town.

.

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MTS, Partner in crime. (tears)

Only to save ADP (Annual Development Plan) funds from elapsing on 30, June, PML-N destroying the Model Town greenery.
PML-N’s elected members with the support of MTS has started work on model town main-circular road’s green belt, its a several km long and huge green area. They are converting this extraordinary greenbelt to cement floor !?

First they tried to dump their funds on mosque’s circular green belts.

When they backed-off from there, residents thought they have able to convince them about the importance of plants. But alas !     They grabbed 30 times bigger green belt to make some (cement related) contractor happy !!!

related:
Punjab uses 45.89pc ADP funds in 9 months

Help !!!, they are converting Model Town’s green-belts and parks into cement blocks.

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