Protective measures against the Coronavirus pandemic in Mardan have been reported to be flawed. As per details, the district administration has set up hand wash points in all major markets of Mardan city as part of the precautionary measures to prevent and contain the spread of the Coronavirus, but the water used in most of the tanks is unhygienic and smells like sewerage water, Naya Daur has learned. Citizens washed their hands thinking it would protect them from Covid-19. However, it is causing more issues to their health.
Junaid Mandoori, General Secretary of Mardanwal Khalaq, a non-government organization, says that after receiving complaints from multiple individuals, they have checked a few tanks located in the markets of Mardan city and found that the water was dirty and smelling like sewage.
Citizens protested over the poor management and asked high-ups to take notice of the matter.
When contacted, Khalil Ur Rahman, Chief Officer at the Water Supply and Sanitation Authority Mardan (WSSM), says that more than 20 hand-wash points are established in different markets of the city. Out of 20, more than 16 of them are installed and maintained by the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) while the remaining 4 are installed by traders, and are maintained and refilled by the WSSM. He adds that his organization are responsible for only 4 tanks that are filled by them, and they are sure that the water in these is clean and hygienic.
Despite multiple attempt the Tehsil Municipal Officer Nisar Ali could not be reached for comments.