LWMC fails to deliver during Eid

Citizens complain of undisposed animal waste, unresponsive helpline

LAHORE: The delay in disposing animals offal from various parts of the city has exposed the efficiency of Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) for its grand operation clean up during Eid-ul-Azha, Pakistan Today has observed.

Residents of different parts of the city complained that animal waste was left to rot for many hours by LWMC staff.

Earlier, LWMC officials claimed to be all set for a cleaning operation in the city during Eid-ul-Azha. For this purpose, around 15,000 staff of LWMC and its supporting Turkish Companies Albayrak and Ozpak were present during Eid holidays. The company also claimed to set at least 116 collection points. Other than this, LWMC also launched its helpline for citizens to register their complaints.

Despite all these arrangements, citizens faced different types of problems regarding cleanliness, collection and disposal of offal of sacrificial animals from their areas.

The offal of animals could be witnessed lying around during three days of the Eid in different areas like, Johar Town, Kot Lakhpat, Darogha Wala, Green Town, Band Road, Nishtar Colony and many other parts of the city.

LWMC announced to distribute two million biodegradable plastic bags among citizens to dispose the animal offal but many citizens were complaining of unavailability of such bags.

“I tried to find the bags but didn’t know where it could be available,” Nadeem, a resident of Johar Town told Pakistan Today, saying that he disposed the offal in a simple plastic bag. He said that the waste bin in his area remained filled with offal but despite calling at helpline, no person from LWMC bothered to resolve his issue.

A helpline launched to resolve the complaints on immediate basis was also proven ineffective. Many citizens complained that either their call was not attended at helpline, or no offal was collected after registration of a complaint.

Waseem, a resident of Mall Road told Pakistan Today that his call was attended after several attempts. “I was informed by a person at helpline that my area was not showing in the LWMC operating areas,” he sai,d and added that he had to dispose the offal himself.

Waseem also complained that the helpline numbers are supposed to be free but LWMC did not provide this facility which is why several were reluctant to call again.

On other hand, LWMC officials on Monday claimed to have performed outstandingly well, saying at least 50,000 tons of animals waste had been disposed of during Eid days. They were addressing media persons along with the Lord Mayor of the city, Col (rtd) Mubashar Javed.

LWMC spokesman Ali Mazhar said that all the LWMC staff remained on job during Eid days which showed a remarkable performance. Talking to Pakistan Today, he said that all complains were dealt with on an immediate basis. “LWMC management and thousands of workers remained at duty for three days who put all their efforts to keep city clean,” Mazhar claimed, saying that their cleanliness operation had not stopped yet and would continue till Tuesday