Uncovered Dumpsters Posing Environmental Hazards In Islamabad
Faizan Hashmi Published January 21, 2019 | 09:53 PM
Despite repeated public complaints, the civic agencies are still at their loggerheads to move totally generated garbage out of the city's area and the residents of the federal capital are compelled to brave teasing odor of the solid waste dumped in installed waste dumpsters by them daily
The placing of waste bins of different sizes across the capital, one of the archaic strategy of Capital Development Authority (CDA) to handle the total generated trash of Islamabad, has gradually left the capital's dwellers to breath in polluted air. The trash trollies aimed at giving the city a civilized look, are somehow becoming breeding places for mosquitoes and creating health hazards for the public as they were not being properly covered.
The residents of the different sectors including G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, I-8, I-9, I-10 and other complained about the untimely cleaning of these waste bins which was also making them more prone to communicable diseases like Malaria, Dengue and diarrhea and demanded to cover these trollies properly.
Talking to this agency, Director Sanitation of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad Sardar Khan Zimri said that the Corporation was taking different measures to keep the city clean by fully utilizing resources at its disposal, citing the paucity of funds to properly handle the trash generated in the capital. He said the administration was also planning to outsource trash-picking to a private company for further streamlining the cleaning process.
Additionally, the Corporation was working out different options to recycle the garbage and utilize it for a constructive purpose like energy generation and making organic fertilizers, requiring around Rs 1.25 billion for handling the total generated trash of the federal capital through insight plans. The outsourcing scheme was already operational in G-6, G-7, G-8, G-9, G-10, G-11 and I-8 Sectors as pilot project since August that had given positive results, he added. The Director informed that the MCI was in the process of consultation with different entities, for the waste disposal without impacting the environment and general health.
Highlighting the options considered by the civic authority over the years, Zimri stressed for materializing the waste-to-energy plant project which would play a significant role in bringing down littering in the capital to zero level and provide the city a civilized look.
Some foreign companies, he said, had shown their desire to build the plants on BOT basis. "They had suggested charging $10 to 12 for converting one-ton garbage into energy and then selling it to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority," he added.
He said he wrote three times to the CDA for allocating the place for the Waste-to-Energy Plant in Sanjrani which he regretted was being dealt with slow approach.
Dr Sharif Astori of Federal Government Services Hospital (FGSH) said trash should be lifted daily as the bins mostly contained food waste, inviting bacteria to grow which could affect the human respiratory system. "Its initial breakdown and subsequent decomposition by the micro-organisms both created unpleasant smell. The people, who had to bear its smell all the day, might have more aggressive behaviour, Qasim claimed.
Muhammad Ishtiaq, a government employee in sector I-9 called for placing these waste-containers outside the localities and practice of placing it before homes, shops, schools and playing grounds must be discouraged. "We are forced to keep our doors and windows shut to avoid this uninvited adversity," he said. He urged the authorities concerned that if they could not put these uncovered bins outside the localities, at least it should apply insecticide or lime-powder on these over-stuffed dumpster.
A retired CDA employee on the condition of anonymity, told this agency that despite lapse of over 50 years, no permanent of garbage dumping site had been set up for the capital due to mishandling of the matter by the civic body.
The city had witnessed relocation of dumping site to sectors H-10, I-12, I-14, I-15 and then back to I-12 over the years. There was need for to deal with the persistent.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From Pakistan
-
NHA restores most roads across the country after heavy rains
6 hours ago -
Three bike lifter gang held, five stolen motorbikes recovered
6 hours ago -
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
8 hours ago -
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
8 hours ago -
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
8 hours ago -
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
8 hours ago
-
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
8 hours ago -
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
8 hours ago -
Flooding on Chitral-Peshawar Highway strands travelers
9 hours ago -
Bilawal Bhutto demands govt to hold tripartite dialogue to curb terrorism
9 hours ago -
Punjab ombudsman facilitates over 1.36 crore payment to victims
9 hours ago -
Leghari seeks KP Govt’s cooperation in anti-power theft campaign
9 hours ago