Garbage dumping in Korangi poses health risk

Industrial and residential garbage is burnt instead of removing that also causes environmental pollution

KARACHI:

The DMC Korangi has turned the main road in the residential into a garbage dumping point where the garbage from industries as well as from the residential areas is dumped.

Residents of Zia Colony and P&T Colony are at higher risk of contracted diseases due to the garbage which is causing air pollution and spread of germs.

Residents of the area staged a protest on Sunday against the problem of garbage dumps being set up among the population. People, protesting on the road from Korangi No. 1 to Chamra Chowrangi said that besides posing health risk to area people, garbage dump is also causing difficult and hindrance in the swift flow of all vehicular traffic.

Garbage is often set on fire instead of being picked up, and as the industrial waste catches fire the smoke of which engulfs the entire area causing breathing problem for residents.

People going for prayers also face problem due to the stench rising from the garbage and when the garbage is burnt, as the mosque is filled with smoke.

People say, the dumping point has been in place for a year. When garbage is set on fire, smoke fills up houses and residential buildings and the stench lasts for twenty-four to thirty-six hours.

Deputy Commissioner Korangi was also repeatedly informed about the issue.

Residents of the area have sent several written requests to shift the garbage dumping point out of residential area but nothing is done to address the issue.

A transporter who took part in the protests said that his truck had caught fire when he passed by the burning garbage.

Residents of the area have appealed to Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab, Provincial Minister Nasir Hussain Shah and Sindh Chief Minister to look into the matter and provide relief to the people.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2021.