Entrails disposal remains a challenge

Piles of stinking offal in blood-stained streets creates unpleasant environment

KARACHI:

The metropolitan city faced significant challenges in terms of cleanliness and waste management during the three days of Eidul Azha. The streets were filled with stinking entrails and remains of sacrificial animals, creating unpleasant and nauseating sights.

Despite tall claims by the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) and Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) regarding their efforts to maintain cleanliness during Eid, detailed accounts revealed a different reality.

Throughout the city, entrails were left unattended for hours, resulting in a stench and the presence of rotting remains of animals on the streets. Waste accumulated in residential areas and along main roads, causing inconvenience to residents.

The situation was particularly dire in Korangi, Gulshan-e- Iqbal, North Karachi, North Nazimabad, Ram Swami, Baldia Town, Clifton Block 5, Isa Nagri, Liaquatabad, PIB Colony, Quaidabad, and Keamari.

The delayed collection of piles of offal worsened the sanitation conditions. To add to the problem, the blood-splattered streets were not treated with lime, further contributing to the unpleasant environment.

Although the SSWMB and KMC claimed to have collected a significant amount of entrails and garbage, Karachiites expressed their dissatisfaction with the arrangements for garbage collection and cleaning. They called for an improvement in their areas on an emergency basis.

Mayor claims offal job handled well

Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Sindh Solid Waste Management Board MD Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah visited various city areas on the second day of Eid.

They monitored the arrangements for collecting and disposing remains of sacrificial animals. Their visit included District Kemari Napier Road, Lyari Road, and Mirza Adam Khan Road in District South, as well as Hussain Abad, Shahrahe Humayun, and Allah Wali Chorangi in District Central, and Shah Faisal Zone in District Korangi.

According to the details provided, the Solid Waste Management Board successfully lifted and adequately disposed of 63,000 remaining sacrificial animals within the first two days of Eid.

Additionally, lime sprinkling is regularly carried out at collection points and areas after placing the materials in the trenches. Suzuki pickups have been tirelessly working in the city without breaks.

The Complaint Cell and Command and Control Centre received 1,128 complaints, while 503 were received through WhatsApp, all of which were forwarded to the relevant officers. Around 90 per cent of the complaints have been resolved district-wide.

There are 106 collection points established for the Eidul Azha operation, from where dumpers load the materials and transport them to the designated landfill sites.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 2^nd, 2023.