Dumping ground: Swat River polluted by irresponsible waste disposal

Residents are fed up of water-borne diseases; say all appeals fall on deaf ears

MINGORA/ PESHAWAR: The Municipal Committee Mingora (MCM) is dumping city waste alongside Swat River,  posing serious threats to marine life and residents.

MCM collects city waste and dumps it close to Swat River on a daily basis, causing environmental pollution. The lack of a dumping facility or ground and a poor waste management system exposed the negligence of authorities.

“Dwellers of Mingora are fed up with the smell of garbage dumped near Swat River,” said Niaz Ahmad Khan, a local. “MCM authorities are responsible for spoiling marine life and tainting the beauty of Swat River.” He added complaints were made to the authorities, but no action was taken.

Yousuf Khan, another local who lives near the dumping spot at Swat River said, “MCM authorities have selected a place close to residential areas for dumping waste. Life in areas with close proximity to the dumping spot is miserable due to the persisting smell,” he added. “Malaria and dengue fever were the most common diseases in these areas.”



Tajdar Alam, a dweller of the city, complained of waterborne diseases among people as they were drinking contaminated water. “Many have no access to clean water and use it from the Swat River for drinking purposes,” he stated.

The local said fatal diseases such as jaundice and cholera were common among people using contaminated water from Swat River.

He said MCM authorities had taken dumping grounds on rent and paid millions for them every year. “The authorities have colluded with owners of the dumping grounds, inflicting a huge financial burden on the management,” Tajdar alleged.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Swat Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Assistant Director Zakir Hussain said many legal notices were sent to the MCM authorities to stop dumping the city’s waste alongside Swat River. “The authorities have yet to give up dumping the waste despite legal notices.”

Mingora Chief Municipal Officer Hayat Shah told The Express Tribune that MCM authorities were aware of public concerns and steps were being taken to resolve the issue on a permanent basis.“Around Rs60 million were allocated to buy a site especially reserved for dumping the city’s waste,” he added.  “The authority is not turning a blind eye to public demands.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2016.