Reviving the hopes of locals resisting the expansion of the Losar Dumping site, an environmental tribunal in Rawalpindi has served notices on the Capital Development Authority (CDA) chairman and the Rawalpindi commissioner, seeking written replies on a petition challenging the allocation of around 800 kanals of extra land for the waste dumping ground near Rawat.
The three-member tribunal has ordered the officials to appear before the competent body on March 21 and address the concerns raised about the allocation of an additional 800 kanals of land for the dumping ground to dispose of garbage, construction materials, and hazardous hospital waste from Islamabad in Rawalpindi.
The environmental body officially accepted the case for hearing to resolve the grievances of affected citizens.
The existing waste dumping ground, spanning 600 kanals in Losar has been in operation for the past six years. However, the decision to acquire an additional 800 kanals of land for a new dumping ground for Islamabad has sparked controversy.
Citizen Action Committee Chairman Fayyaz Shah along with a hundred other affectees has challenged the administrative move, arguing that the existing dumping ground has already adversely affected the mental and physical health of around 0.2 million people in surrounding areas. They contend that allocating further land for dumping will only exacerbate health hazards and environmental degradation.
During the course of hearing, the petitioners argued against expanding the dumping ground, stressing that Islamabad has ample space, and establishing a dumping ground on the outskirts of Rawalpindi is illegal. They prayed for the annulment of the agreement between the Rawalpindi commissioner and CDA regarding land transfer for the new dumping ground. Additionally, they advocated for the installation of modern garbage disposal plants to address waste management effectively.
The environmental tribunal has instructed CDA and the Rawalpindi commissioner to provide written replies on the matter. Meanwhile, citizens have announced plans to launch a protest movement against the establishment of the dumping grounds after Eidul Fitr. Banners protesting the initiative have been displayed throughout the affected areas.
Residents have urged the tribunal to conduct hearings at the site of the dumping ground for two days, allowing them to express their concerns directly. They asserted that they would not permit any further dumping in their vicinity, citing the adverse impacts on health, education, and religious practices. During the rainy season, the stench from the dumping ground spreads over two to three kilometres, further deteriorating living conditions for the affected population.
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