Lack Of Scientific Landfill Site, Garbage Burning Jeopardizing Capital's Environment: Farzana Altaf

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Lack of scientific landfill site, garbage burning jeopardizing capital's environment: Farzana Altaf

The only planned and technically developed metropolis (federal capital) of the country has no scientific landfill site for proper waste management of the mushrooming housing societies being developed in the city.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Nov, 2018 ) :The only planned and technically developed metropolis (federal capital) of the country has no scientific landfill site for proper waste management of the mushrooming housing societies being developed in the city.

Talking to APP, PAK-EPA DG Farzana Altaf Shah Tuesday said the major drivers polluting Federal capital's ambiance includes unshackled land grabbers who have stripped off the city from its green cover hence, raising housing societies, consequent burning of garbage, brick kilns in the surroundings of the federal capital, increasing transport and resulting vehicular emissions .

"The developed cities across the world possess an integrated solid waste management system which ensures Eco-friendly and sustainable disposal of waste but it exists nowhere in our case," she added.

She opined that there were brick kilns in the federal capital which had reduced in number as an outcome of rapid urbanization and budding of real estate projects.

However, at present, there is a cluster of brick kilns in Chakbeli Khan area which emits black smoke deteriorating air quality of the city, she added.

Commenting on the land mafia involved in developing high rise buildings and real estate projects, she said irrational approach of real estate builders have destroyed the terrain as the area covered under a housing society is turned into leveled land which has increased the particulate matter ratio and temperature due to deforestation.

Moreover, she said the housing societies including Bahria Town, Police Foundation, PWD Housing Society, Sawan Garden, Media Town, Jinnah Garden and others were dumping their waste near Cahkbeli Khan which is not a proper landfill side rather a deserted land turned into garbage dump where furtively people set that garbage on fire.

The waste of these housing societies is also being dumped across the Soan River where the same story continues as people at night stealthily burn the garbage heaps which causes severe repercussions on the atmosphere of the city.

"PAK-EPA has called on the private housing societies' owners for dialogue over the issue to strictly abide by the law and develop indigenous integrated waste management plants and in case of violation PAK-EPA under article 11 of its laws is authorized to seal the entrance and exits of the violating housing society and impose punishment as per law," PAK-EPA DG said.

To a question, she said the belching plants permitted by Capital Development Authority (CDA) are also spoiling air quality of the city as they run the plant on low quality Kerosene oil and diesel which emits highly injurious Sulphur dioxide gas that rigorously affects the environment and human health.

She said the plant owners have given undertaking to sprinkle water over the dust floating in air due to crushing of concrete in the plant whereas no such practice was visible.

The plants are functional near Islamic International University and Motorway interchange near the city, however, EPA takes proper action against the violators by giving prior notices, imposing fines and sealing of the plants.

"CDA takes millions of Rupees rent for giving its land on lease to the plant owners and also shares the responsibility to ensure environment friendly working of the plants," she added.

She said PAK-EPA has successfully overcome industrial emissions in the industrial sector of the federal capital. "Regular online vigilance and monitoring of different factories' chimneys and air ducts is conducted by PAK-EPA through cameras and air quality monitors to ensure healthy environment," she added.

Farzana Altaf Shah said massive increase in automobiles plying over the roads of the capital have also affected the air quality as the federal capital owing to its fertile land and scenic landscape should have the best air quality standard which is degrading.

She said the traffic system in the capital needs augmentation as there is only one Kashmir Highway that connects the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and only access to the Murree hill station.

She said the limited tourist spots like Daman-e-Koh, Centaurus Mall, Giga Mall and Lake View Park are some of the available visiting spots frequently visited by the citizens and is a key source to the bad air quality in the city due to heavy vehicular emissions.

"There is no public transport available in the federal capital that forces people to travel on their own transport hence, increasing in the number of vehicles resulting huge carbon emissions demeaning the once cherished beauty of the capital," she remarked.

She said PAK-EPA started an integrated waste management plant inside the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Society in G-15 as a model for other private housing schemes to replicate it for Eco-friendly and sustainable management.

She added that in various sectors particularly I-11 and I-12 area garbage burning at the part of CDA employees have been reported which is regrettable, adding the residents are also involved in the burning of plastic and household garbage during cold weather should be abandoned.

The motor mechanics are also found burning the cloth pieces, used in their repair work, damped into engine oil and other plastic material to warm themselves in cold season causes serious respiratory issues resulting into cancer and other fatal health complications which they should be aware of to avoid any loss, she added.