‘Dumping site selected for disposal of capital’s waste’
Refugees dig up plastic bottles, glass and other waste they then sort and sell in bulk. AFP
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said on Friday that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been finalised for a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) for a landfill for the disposal of the waste.
He said that the MoU was presented in the 41st meeting of the board of directors of RWMC and approval was accorded for the signing of the MoU with CDA subject to adherence to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations of the government of Punjab.
The RWMC has agreed to allocate 400-kanal of land to the CDA for the landfill site.
Umar said that the process of land acquisition for a new landfill site for the RWMC has also been initiated. The land measuring 1,265 Kanals on Mandra Chakwal Road at village Bagnial, DeraPothi, and Sahang Tehsil Gujjar Khan has been acquired for this purpose, he said adding that the land was located almost six-kilometre down from GT Road on Mandra Chakwal Road and at a distance of 55 kilometres from the city.
While highlighting the importance of landfill sit, Umar said that the CDA had been deprived of the landfill site and waste disposal infrastructure for decades, which was also causing environmental pollution in Islamabad.
“The CDA has been facing immense challenges in handling Islamabad's waste,” he said.
Asad Umar said that such a large amount of garbage lying in the city not only creates health problems but also poses a serious threat to the environment. “With the acquisition of 400-kanal of land by the CDA, the dilemma of the civic agency for the landfill site will be solved soon,” he said adding: “Our first priority is to provide a clean environment to the citizens of Islamabad.
Umar directed the relevant department to hire a consultant for the environmental impact assessment of the new landfill site. The Public-Private Partnership Authority will make further recommendations for the next meeting of the board of directors of the RWMC to discuss the best way to develop the landfill site.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 29th, 2022.