Pindiites endure foul smell as waste transfer station stays put

Rawalpindi:The residents of Rawalpindi are facing a permanent issue with foul odours, as the garbage transfer station near Liaquat Bagh is unlikely to be relocated. This was confirmed by Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) Managing Director Rana Sajid, who informed ‘The News’ on Sunday.

Residents of Rawalpindi are not only subjected to the persistent bad smell but are also suffering from various lung diseases due to the garbage transfer station's proximity to Liaquat Bagh. Despite numerous complaints, no action has been taken by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz under the Suthra Punjab Programme to address the district administration's failure to relocate the station. Once a beautiful city, Rawalpindi has now been marred by the constant stench, yet the district administration has not taken this issue seriously for over a decade.

RWMC Managing Director Rana Sajid stated that the transfer station would not be moved to another location due to a lack of available land. "We do not have space to shift this transfer station, so the people of Rawalpindi will have to endure this bad smell permanently," he said. He acknowledged the persistent foul odour affecting residents around the clock and added that the smell might subside after the monsoon season.

The areas most affected by the smell include Mareer Chowk to Committee Chowk, Gawalmandi, Raja Bazaar, Arya Mohallah, Tipu Road, Jahangir Road, College Road, China Market, and several other nearby localities. The residents of these areas are experiencing various health issues due to the pervasive smell, yet the authorities have turned a blind eye to this problem for over ten years.

The environmental impact of this garbage transfer station, set up by Albayrak under RWMC, has become a severe issue, particularly for those living in its vicinity. The foul smell emanating from the station is not only troubling residents but also affecting users of major roads like Murree Road, Mareer Hassan Road, Kutcherry Road, and GT Road, as garbage is transported along these routes from evening until late at night.

The people of Rawalpindi have appealed to the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Prime Minister, and the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take action to restore the city's beauty. Meanwhile, residents and shopkeepers of Arya Mohallah, Liaquat Bagh, College Road, China Market, Chamanzar, Tipu Road, and Gawalmandi have warned that they will take to the streets and block all traffic if the garbage transfer station is not immediately removed.