LWMC to operate round the clock

Waste management company cancels holidays, leaves of staff on Eid days

LAHORE:

More than 10,000 employees of the Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) will serve in three shifts on Eid days to provide round the clock service for maintaining cleanliness in the city on the occasion.

The LWMC has cancelled the holidays and leaves of its staff under a plan prepared for Eidul Fitr. The company's workshop will also remain open for repair and maintenance of the equipment.

Under the waste management plan for the Eid holidays, special cleaning operations will be carried out in the city, especially at mosques, markets and graveyards.

Orders have been issued to the teams formed for the operation to follow all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the work.

The LWMC teams will work in three shifts on the Eid days. All of the over 10,000 sanitary workers will be on duty and the officers will monitor their performance.

All the staff members deputed in the field will report their attendance and locations to the officers concerned through WhatsApp in the morning.

Water will be sprayed and lime sprinkled in all markets, mosques and cemeteries.

LWMC's mechanical sweepers, washers, loaders, trolleys and other machinery will remain active in the field.

The technical staff were told to complete the repair of the vehicles required for the operation in the workshop by Tuesday. LWMC Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Imran Ali Sultan said while talking to The Express Tribune that he would carry out surprise visits in various areas of the city in addition to monitoring the implementation of the waste management plan on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. He said any negligence on the part of the sanitary staff will not be tolerated in order to uphold Lahore's reputation as a city of gardens.

He also appealed to the citizens to support the LWMC in maintaining cleanliness and put garbage in the bins placed across the provincial capital or the purpose.

The CEO said the citizens should contact LWMC's helpline 1139 and the Clean Lahore mobile application in case of any complaint.

Meanwhile, about 10,000 more employees are set to be recruited across the province to overcome the shortage of sanitary workers.

The Punjab Local Government Department has reportedly prepared a strategy to improve the sanitation system in the province.

In accordance with the strategy, Local Government Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal has issued instructions for the recruitment of more than 10,000 sanitary workers in the 136 tehsils of the province.

According to official documents, at least 100 sanitary workers will be recruited in tehsils with a population of more than 70,000, while 80 employees will be inducted in tehsils have note than 40,000 people. The tehsils having a lower population will get 60 sanitary workers.

The provincial secretary said that on the directives of the Punjab government, an effective sanitation system was being set up all over Punjab so that the people could have access to sanitation facilities of the same standard in all areas.

Billions of rupees are being spent on cleaning Lahore with the help of modern equipment, while the needs of other areas of the province, especially the shortage of staff, are also being addressed, the official added.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2021.