SHC tells civic agencies to explain burning of garbage in open areas

The Sindh High Court (SHC) has issued notices to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board and others seeking an explanation of why solid waste was being burned at Malir River instead of being properly disposed of.

The orders were issued on Friday on the petition of Yasir Khursheed and others as well as the residents of Mehmoodabad, Air Force Housing Scheme and other adjacent areas who have challenged the dumping and disposal of solid waste through open burning in Malir River area along the Korangi Causeway, creating an environmental hazard and a threat to citizens’ health.

The petitioners submitted that KMC, Cantonment Board Faisal and other civic agencies were dumping solid waste in Malir River near their houses illegally to embezzle funds allocated in their budgets for collection and disposal of garbage at designated landfill sites.

The burning of solid waste/garbage releases pollutants, including dioxins, arsenic and carbon monoxide, which causes respiratory diseases, including asthma, the petition stated. The complainants further said that because of garbage burning in their areas, several people, especially children have fallen sick, and many children have been diagnosed with asthma.

Due to illegal acts of the civic agencies, the lives of the residents are at great risk and burning/smouldering of the solid waste in Malir River at Korangi Causeway exposes children living in the area as well as hundreds studying at schools nearby to the great danger of respiratory diseases, the petitioners submitted.

Naming the chief secretary, KMC, Solid Waste Management Board, Faisal Cantonment Board, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and others as respondents, the petitioners requested the court to declare the burning of waste on the Malir River bed illegal and to direct the chief secretary to impose a ban on the harmful practice.

The SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan observed that there were also complaints that garbage was being burned in open spaces in the city. It then directed the provincial law officer to explain as to why garbage was being burned in open spaces near residential areas and directed the respondents to file comments by January 17.

Blocked roads in Soldier Bazaar

The SHC has also directed the provincial law officer, KMC and others to file comments on a petition against the blockade of roads in Soldier Bazaar.

The petitioners, who live in the locality, had submitted that the police and KMC have blocked several lanes and roads in the area, causing difficulties for the residents, including schoolchildren, and restricting their movement. They requested the court to direct the local administration to open the roads.

In a separate case, the SHC directed the provincial police chief to reply to a petition filed by a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz lawmaker seeking action against police officials for registering false cases against PML-N workers.

Petitioner MNA Syed Ayaz Shah Sherazi had submitted that the police had implicated him and other PML-N workers in cases for political victimisation, and a court inquiry had later found the cases to be false. He sought action against the responsible policemen.