Authorities dump 50,000 tonnes of animal remains

CM says negligence in maintaining cleanliness will not be tolerated

LAHORE: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) disposed of a record breaking 50,000 tonnes of animal waste, particularly offal, during three days of Eidul Azha.

The operation was backed day and night by more than 15,000 sanitary workers, a total of 2,000 machinery, including pickups, and on the ground support of Turkish contractor companies such as Albayrak and Ozpak.



This was highlighted by the LWMC Chairman and Lahore Lord Mayor Colonel (retd) Mubashir Javed as well as LWMC Managing Director Bilal Mustafa Syed. The officials were speaking to a press conference on Monday and were accompanied by renowned film and TV star Jan Rambo (Afzal Khan). |

LWMC officials informed media that the company devised a comprehensive strategy to effectively collect and dispose of more than 50,000 tonnes of animal waste by using two million waste bags which were distributed among the masses at Eid camps, model camps, shops, mosques and during door to door campaigns.

The strategy also focused on swift and timely lifting of animal waste from the streets by engaging additional pickups. The material would first be taken to 116 temporary waste collection and transfer stations and later moved to dumping sites.

As many as 297 Eid camps were established at the union council level and this helped with coordinated efforts. Animal waste was dumped at specially established dumping points in an environmentally-friendly manner by covering it with soil and lime. Special arrangements were made at major slaughterhouses by deploying workers and machinery, while also using mechanical washing by applying phenyl, Dettol and Arq-e-Gulab.

Actor Afzal Khan also took part in LWMC activities from the first day of Eid till the third. Better known as Rambo, Afzal paid a visit to multiple camps of LWMC and distributed waste bags among the public. He also swept the roads of the Walled city with sanitary workers in an effort to sensitise the locals.



All operational activities were monitored in a state-of-the-art video wall monitoring room at the LWMC head office. LWMC Chairman Mubashir Javed, MD LWMC Bilal Mustafa Syed and other officials remained in the field during the three days of Eid and monitored operations both from the control room and field areas. Operations were also monitored by android-based mobile systems and pictorial records were maintained.

Thousands of pictures were made available on the portal of the Punjab Information and Technology Board. More than 16,662 citizens contacted LWMC via helpline 1139 for assistance and resolution of their waste related complaints. The company claimed around 98% of the complaints were immediately addressed and resolved, while the remaining were tackled before concluding the operation. According to an LWMC spokesperson, the administration thanked citizens for their exemplary cooperation during all the days of Eid.

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz also issued special instructions to the administration, solid waste management companies and other departments to ensure excellent cleanliness arrangements. He said all resources should be utilised to improve cleanliness and to ensure that animal waste/remains should be dumped properly and in a timely manner. He said the staff of the departments concerned should stay in the field and the staff of solid waste management companies should discharge their responsibilities efficiently. He said no negligence would be tolerated.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 5^th, 2017.