Garbage transfer station spoiling beauty of Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi :Bad smell and diseases have gripped people of the city thanks to apathy of the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) and Albayrak for continuously dumping garbage near Liaquat Bagh transfer station.

The authorities concerned are not only spoiling the environment of the city but also playing with the lives of innocent public.

Garbage transfer station near Liaquat Bagh setup by Albayrak working under Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) is turning into a permanent environmental issue and a headache for the residents of Rawalpindi, especially those living around the vicinity including Liaquat Bagh, China Market, Gawalmandi, Arya Mohallah, Moti Mahal, Mareer Chowk, Tipu Road, Raja Bazaar, Chamanzar and several other localities, because of the foul smell emanating from it round the clock. It is not only creating problems for the residents, but also affecting users of Murree Road, Mareer Hassan Road, Kutchery Road and GT Road, as garbage is shifted through these roads from evening till late night.

The Pindiites have appealed to Chief Minister Punjab, Prime Minister and Chief Justice of Pakistan to save the beauty of Rawalpindi.

The residents and shopkeepers of Arya Mohallah, 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.

Parks and Horticultural Authority (PHA) Managing Director Malik Muhammad Abid has strongly in favour to immediately remove this transfer station as flowers and expensive plants are withering continuously. The visitors of famous and historical Liaquat Bagh are avoiding entering the park due to bad smell everywhere, he bemoaned.

It is worth mentioning here that former managing director, Solid Waste Management Company, Irfan Qureshi, was trying to remove this garbage transfer station to another location but he was transferred by higher authorities. The new managing director (additional charge) Rizwan Sherdil also promised to clean this city but failed to live up to his promises.

Without powers, managing director (additional charge), Rizwan Sherdil, said that they were trying to find out an alternative place to remove this garbage transfer station.

Sara Hussain, a resident of Gawalmandi said that they could not live here now as there is bad smell round the clock. But, concerned authorities are looking at the whole drama with closed eyes, she denounced.

Niaz Ahmed, a resident of Arya Mohallah said that people living around Liaquat Bagh have been facing worst situation since the establishment of 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.

Muhammad Shafiq, another resident said that they could not bear the foul smell in monsoon as we are facing eye allergy and lungs problems. We appeal higher authorities to take action against Albayrak and RWMC to immediately remove this station to another place, he said.

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.’

Bashir Ahmed, a local 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 Chief Minister Punjab, Chief Justice of Pakistan and Prime Minister 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 is spoiling its beauty after shifting transfer station in the heart of the city. The Punjab chief minister should take immediate notice of the problem, he requested.