Lack of an effective waste disposal plan, especially during Eidul Azha season, has been a long standing concern for the city of Lahore. In previous years, sacrificial animal remains would be dumped into streets, bazaars and empty plots where they would often pile up and rot for weeks before being disposed. The stench of rotting flesh and swarms of insects would be the first of uninvited guests following the festival.
Second would be disease and disorder. However this year, when stakes are already high, local authorities have put together a comprehensive plan to ensure proper garbage disposal and use of sanitary measures to keep the city clean.
According to Lahore Deputy Commissioner Danish Afzal, the district administration has directed the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) to set up a total of 293 camps across the city. The camps, which will be set up in every union council, will ascertain strict adherence to its SOPs in every division.
“The public can register their complaints about non-adherence to safe disposal plans or littering issues at these camps.
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The LWMC in-charge will be present there and will make sure that all cleaning and hygiene protocols are effectively followed in his area,” informed Afzal.
“The camps will also offer briefings to the public on how to properly dispose their sacrificial-animal remains. Moreover, free plastic bags will be distributed among the citizens so that the waste is safely handled and handed to the sanitary workers instead of being dumped on the streets,” he added.
In addition, the administration has deployed over 166 sanitary workers and specialised cleaning machinery in the seven cattle markets of the city.
Prior to Eid, some 119 waste transfer stations have also been set up at union council levels, while cleaning arrangements for Eid venues including Jamia Masid and Zero Waste operations in urban centres and markets are also part of the program.
Speaking to The Express Tribune about unsafe waste disposal practices and its consequences, Dr. Salman Kazmi of Mayo Hospital, Lahore shared that animal remains which often end up in rubbish heaps on roadsides and residential areas, can lead to several diseases.
“The public should corporate with the LWMC and wrap their animals’ remains in plastic bags to responsibly hand them to the sanitary workers,” he told.
Adding to Dr Kazmi’s advice, Jamia Naeemia Supervisor Dr. Ragheb Naeemi, said that cleanliness is one of the fundamental aspects of Islam and thus, it is in the spirit of the Muslim festival of sacrifice to ensure there is no littering or pollution due to the celebrations. “The people should take responsibility of their areas and duly report to the administration in case they find any kind of animal remains being dumped on the streets,” he appealed.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2020.
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