NAROWAL: Students of the Government Amaan Girls High Scho 01, Siddiquepura, staged a demonstration against the authorities concerned for turning a blind eye to a large pond of stinking sewage on two sides of their school, which had been affecting their academic activities and health since long.

The girl students gathered in front of the school and raised slogans against the municipal authorities, education officials and the district administration for doing nothing to provide them relief.

Narowal is hometown of federal minister for planning and development Ahsan Iqbal.

More than 600 girl students and their teachers have to daily spend at least six hours amid unbearable stench caused by the sewage accumulated around the school.

Two of the protesting students,Iram Shahzadi and Kulsum Ashraf told Dawn that the sewage pond had become a breeding ground for insects that could be witnessed in the classrooms in abundance.

Citizens Muhammad Arshad and Sajjad Husain deplored inaction of Municipal Committee, education authorities and district administration.

They said the situation worsened in the rainy season when the pond swelled and stinky water entered school compound. They claimed even a snake had been witnessed inside the school and asked who would be responsible if any untoward incident happened.

Narowal Municipal Committee Chairman Syed Azharul Hasan claimed he had been trying his `level best` to get the sewage drained out as early as possible.

District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Muhammad Ghias Sabar said he had written letters to the con-cerned authorities informing them of the situation, but to no avail.

Deputy CommissionerRafaqat Ali Naswana has sought a report from the CEO on the issue. He said it was an alarming situation that would beaddressed soon.

The students appealed to Punjab chief minister to order steps to provide them relief.