Pindiites, Islooites exposed to serious health problems due to garbage burning

Appeal to PM, Mayor Islamabad to address their grievances on priority

Rawalpindi

The residents of areas near Sector I-12 along IJ Principal Road have been exposed to various diseases due to disposal of tonnes of garbage from different sectors of the metropolitan city on daily basis and its subsequent burning.

The smoke and fumes emanating from burnt garbage causes great inconvenience to the residents of nearby localities including -- Westridge, British Homes, Allahabad, Salmanabad, Habib Colony, Aliabad and British Carriage Factory -- as they have to bear the brunt of all the smoke and stench emanating from the garbage dump. Time and again, the issue has been brought into the notice of Capital Development Authority and several protest under local political leadership including MNA Malik Ibrar has been staged on IJ Principal Road. However, little attention has been paid to the woes of the area residents and they have been left to bear this unhygienic condition on permanent basis.

It merits mentioning here that Islamabad despite being a well-planned city does not a proper dumping site. It is also ironical that since 1961, when the capital city was established the metropolis, Islamabad, has been deprived of a proper landfill for garbage dumping for the past more than five decades.

The situation in the areas adjoining this garbage dump is terrible, as the garbage is mostly burned in the evening and thick clouds of smoke released by the burning garbage makes it difficult for the people of nearby localities of to breathe.

Nazir Ahmed, a resident of Westridge while talking to this scribe, said it has become unbearable for them to breathe due to the thick smoke compounded with stinking smell emanating from garbage.

Wearing a breathing mask, Nazir Ahmed said that since ages an age-old solution to garbage disposal has been used which is to burn it on the site.

Nazir Ahmed, is among many local residents affected by the fumes emanating from the I-12 garbage dumping site where the garbage is usually set ablaze. He said that many a times they came onto roads to protest against the insensitivity of the civic body.

Almas Khan, a resident of Carriage Factory area said that dryness of the mouth, itching of the eyes, severe cough and asthma are just some of the problems faced by the residents of his locality.

He said that the residents of localities near I-12 garbage dumping site cannot sleep properly during night as clouds of toxic gas and foul odours are not only polluting the environment, but making them spend sleepless nights.

Health experts also claim that fumes emitting from burning garbage as well as smoke affects respiratory systems of the breathers badly. They said garbage burning near residential areas can cause a number of lung-related diseases, as well as rashes, nausea and headaches.

The area residents have appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Sheikh Anser Aziz, Mayor of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad and Chairman of Capital Development Authority to look into the problems of those living around I-12 and allow them to live a healthy life.