Clean Lahore not so clean anymore, thanks to LMWC

Lahore Waste Management Company (LMWC) under the Clean Lahore Project is using residential areas of the city for dumping collected waste, turning large portions of the historical city into dumping grounds and causing severe environmental hazards, Pakistan Today has learnt.
Like many other developing countries, waste management in Lahore is a tough challenge. Insufficient management facilities for solid waste storage and disposal are main causes of environmental dilapidation in the city with a population of approximately 10 million. Lahore is experiencing an urban sprawl and industrialisation that is leading to the production of enormous amount of waste from many sources like household waste, commercial activities, industries, hospitals and animal waste, all of which are contributing in creating environmental and health hazards for citizens.
The city is divided into nine major towns and 150 union councils. About 6,000 tonnes of solid waste is generated from different sources with high percentage of organic waste (67 percent daily) with a generation rate of 0.84kg/capita per day. The rest is recyclable or unclassified in composition.
Wastes and by-products can also cause poisoning and pollution, whether through the release of pharmaceutical products, in particular antibiotics drugs, through the wastewater or by toxic elements or compounds such as mercury.
According to health experts, occupational risks may be associated with the operation of certain disposal facilities. Inadequate incineration or incineration of unsuitable materials can result in the release of pollutants into the air.
The dumping of solid waste is one of the most important factors. There are sites allocated for the dumping the waste material. But the LWMC has failed to continue the project of a cleaner Lahore.
Identifying these illegal sites, sources revealed that there are 9 sites in the city where LMWC is dumping waste of the city. Adjacent to Expo Center, Johar town, Tibba Village (ferozpur Road), 3Km off, in downstream of Hudiara drain, Paddori Village, Lahore cantt, Saggian bridge cross, Sunder Industrial Estate, Sundar Raiwnid Road, opposite to Nissar spinning Mills, Kattar Bund, Motorway flyover cross and Mehmood Botti are main dumping sites.
Local resident said, “We are facing serious problems. The waste controlling authorities throw the garbage in a plot and we don’t know what government is doing under the guise of Clean Lahore project.
“The waste is causing serious diseases like malaria and different infections. We personally keep the environment clean but it is the government that makes it worse by coming in and dumping the waste,” another resident aid.
Sources from LWMC said that they have been dumping in Medmood Botti because it was the official site for dumping waste. Sources further claimed that a Turkish company will be starting a waste management project with the Punjab government. They further said that a contract would soon be signed which would begin a massive recycling project.