By Bilal Kanjal
—Lack of a proper garbage dumping site adding to people’s woes
ISLAMABAD: The failure to launch a proper garbage dumping side in Islamabad indicates the incompetence and apathy of Capital Development Authority (CDA).
The city, with a population of almost 2 million, is in dire need of a garbage dumping site to dispose of the tonnes of garbage accumulated in the city on a regular basis.
Moreover, the city administration has been unable to decide on a mechanism to address the waste collection and cleanliness system in the capital.
The CDA and MCI have both badly failed to resolve this much-awaited project and it seems that both authorities are in limbo with the issue as Environment Protection Agency (EPA) objected on their temporary fix for a garbage dumping site in Islamabad.
The civic agency does not want the citizens to litter around and dump rubbish on streets, roads, green belts, business and recreational places and exhorts them through banners to make the city litter free. But ironically, the CDA authorities themselves are oblivious to their own responsibilities. As the authority has been unable to designate a proper dumping site and formulate an adequate waste lifting system, one can find rubbish in open plots, streets, parks and many other places in Islamabad.
A citizen named Shahzad Ahmed said that CDA has, multiple times, fixed a temporary dumping site for in the capital, and polluted the environment instead of resolving the issue permanently. It’s necessary to develop a proper site with all its allies as the heaps of rubbish lying around the city pose a serious threat to citizens, he added.
During a survey of Pakistan Today in the area of Bari Imam, people said that the residents here are facing health problems as they have to face not only the repelling sight and smell of garbage dumps but also have hurdles in the smooth flow of water through nullahs through which garbage is seen pervading.
Complaints were made by residents of Bani Gala as well. The environment of this beautiful rural area is under serious threat because of a lack of solid waste management, said Aftab Rana.
When a citizen, who was throwing garbage on an open green area, was told that littering in Islamabad is a crime under clause 5(29) of CDA Environment Protection Regulation 2008 and violators can be fined from Rs 50 to Rs 300 on the spot, he said that he was unaware and does not know of another option.
Talking with Pakistan Today, CDA Spokesperson Mazhar Hussain said that the identification of land for a garbage dumping site is in the process with consideration of all allied facilities including recycling.
After repeated attempts, the Islamabad Metropolitan Corporation Chief Asad Kiani was not available for a comment.
