Residents warn concerned authorities of blocking road

Nearby people are facing allergy, diseases and stench round the clock

Rawalpindi

The authorities concerned have left Pindiites in the lurch not taking any kind of action against Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) and Albayrak for continuously spreading foul smell everywhere round the clock due to garbage transfer station situated near Liaquat Bagh. The nearby residents are not only facing stench round the clock but facing eye allergy and lungs diseases because of bad smell everywhere.

The residents and shopkeepers of Arya Muhallah, Liaquat Bagh, College Road, China Market, Chamanzar, Tipu Road and Gawalmandi have warned concerned authorities to immediately remove garbage transfer station otherwise they would come on roads to block all kind of traffic against this issue. They said that higher authorities are not taking this issue seriously resultantly they were facing problems round the clock.

Muhammad Nawaz, a senior citizen in angry mood said that people living around Liaquat Bagh have been facing worst situation since the newly established Albayrak working under Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) has made a garbage transfer station at Liaquat Bagh. “It seems that we are settled in toilet facing bad smell round the clock but authorities concerned are looking at the clumsy situation with closed eyes,” he denounced.

Shazia Iftikhar, a resident of Arya Muhallah, appealed Chief Minister Punjab and Chief Justice Lahore High Court (LHC) to take an immediate notice of this issue otherwise all people would face lungs diseases in near future. “We are human being not animals but local management is considering us like animals. Nobody is taking action to remove garbage transfer station from the heart of city which is shameful,” she denounced. If authorities concerned will not take action, we would come on roads against this issue because bad smell is approaching in homes,” she warned.

The residents and people working in offices like RDA, Wasa, Rawalpindi Press Club, Rescue-15, TMA, National College of Arts etc are worst affected due to the bad smell emanating from the newly established transfer station. The garbage collected from different localities of the city is dumped here at the transfer station from where the garbage is shifted to another transfer station at ‘Losar.’

Muhammad Noman a resident of Chaman Zar said that despite many complaints the civic authorities have failed to remove garbage, which is causing bad smell and different diseases in the areas. We appeal to the Lahore High Court (LHC) and Chief Minister Punjab to take action against the transfer station in the heart of the city at Liaquat Bagh. He said that no doubt Punjab government is trying to make this city a city of fragrance but civic body making this city dirty after shifting transfer station here in the heart of the city. The Punjab chief minister should take immediate notice of the problem, he requested.

Sardar Rafaqat Hussain a resident of Naya Muhallah said that it was surprising that local management has shifted transfer station here in the city. The local management should direct concerned authorities to send garbage directly to ‘Losar’, he said. We are facing hell like situation especially during rainy season, local management should take up this issue otherwise we will come on roads, he warned.

The Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) Managing Director Irfan Qureshi said that they were trying to make proper construction around the transfer station at Liaquat Bagh.

Some key post officials of Solid Waste Management Company (SWMC) and Albayrak on condition of anonymity said that Managing Director Irfan Qureshi was totally helpless in this situation. He also wanted to remove transfer station to another place but was powerless.