Notices sent to mayor, SEPA and SSWMB chiefs for burning garbage in the city

Lawyer argues burning of waste violates right to clean and safe environment

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) issued on Friday notices to the Karachi mayor, Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) director-general (DG) and the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) head on a petition against the burning of solid waste in the city.

A two-judge bench, headed by Justice Irfan Saadat Khan, also directed the respondents to file their written comments in this regard by January 17.

The matter of the burning of solid waste in the city was brought to the court by a citizen, Yasir Khursheed, who had cited the Karachi mayor, and Sepa and SSWMB chiefs as respondents in a petition.

The petitioner, represented by Advocate Zubair Ahmed, informed the judges that solid waste was being burnt in broad daylight in residential areas and on thoroughfares across the metropolis.



He maintained that residents living in various areas of the city had been complaining about the burning of waste in their localities.

Advocate Ahmed argued that the burning of the solid waste was not only causing environmental pollution, but also diseases. He complained that the civic administration and the SSWMB, which were responsible for ensuring safe disposal of solid waste, had set up garbage dumping points in the city where the solid waste was burnt instead of being disposed safely.

"The Constitution guarantees the citizens' right to a clean and safe environment," argued the lawyer.

The court was pleaded to question the Karachi mayor and SSWMB head about nonfulfillment of their obligations towards proper disposal of waste.



The SHC was also requested to question the Sepa DG regarding the matter as the agency was under obligation to control environmental pollution. The petitioner argued that Sepa was not taking action according to the law against the civic administration for polluting the environment by burning garbage in open air.

After hearing initial arguments, the bench issued notices to the respondents to file their written comments in this regard by January 17.