Building trash dumped on roads draws ire

Following the district administration’s imposition of a ban on dumping of construction material alongside the banks of the Nullah Leh, the tractortrolley mafia has started disposing of the debris on the main thoroughfares of the garrison city.

Due to the illegal dumping of construction waste, heaps of building debris have formed alongside the major highways which is not only impacting the city’s aesthetic appeal but also the flow of traffic.

The dumping of construction debris on the public pathways also blocks rainwater from draining properly while the accumulation of rainwater also serves as the hotbed of the breeding of dengue-spreading mosquitoes.

The district administration had enacted a prohibition on disposing of waste, including construction debris, on the banks of Nullah Leh following the desilting of the nullah ahead of the monsoon season.

The deputy commissioner had instructed the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), and all the assistant commissioners to register cases against the violators while enforcing Section 144.

Muhammad Iqbal, a resident of Rawalpindi Cantonment, told The Express Tribune that there are three significant roads – Ratta Road, Nogaza Road and Supply Road – which connect the City Saddar Road with the Murree Road.

“The drivers of the tractor- trollies have dumped construction waste on the sidewalks of these significant roadways, which not only reduces the width of Cantt's main thoroughfares and creates traffic bottlenecks, but also negatively impacts the area’s aesthetic appeal,” he lamented.

He said heaps of construction waste have also formed on the public sidewalks alongside these roads.

“The only explanation is that the district administration banned the dumping of debris on the banks of the Nullah Leh, after which the building debris is being disposed of in an extremely improper manner,” he said.

Another resident, Arham Noman, said the heaps of construction waste on all the city’s major thoroughfares have started turning into mountains.

“Every day after 11pm, tractortrolleys pick up trash from various construction sites and run away after disposing it alongside the major roads,” he said.

“On several occasions, the locals warned them against dumping the waste on roads but they are so influential that they continue to do so which has significantly narrowed down the public highways,” he added.

He demanded the Rawalpindi commissioner and relevant officials of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board stop the illegal and unethical practice of dumping construction waste on the public highways and take strict action against the tractor-trolley mafia involved in the practice.

“The debris accumulated on the public highways is also obstructing the drainage of rainwater.” Meanwhile, the RMC officials said they used 40 dumpers to lift and dispose of the building debris that had piled up on Dhok Ratta Road, but the trolley mafia again started dumping it there.

“Efforts are being made to stop this practice by forming night squads of officials to arrest those involved,” they said.

On the other hand, the RCB officials said some time ago action had been taken against those throwing the building debris on the public roads after which the practice ended.

“It seems that the garbage throwers have returned,” they said and added that action will again be initiated against those involved in the practice.

“The building debris on Cantt's roadways will be immediately removed and the highways will be fully restored,” they said.