Rotting Eid waste sparks health crisis

Massive heaps of waste, including animal entrails, blood and trash from Eidul Azha sacrifices, have piled up to 15-20 feet high at the Losar dumping ground in Rawalpindi.

The site, already overwhelmed, is now emitting a foul stench worsened by recent monsoon rains and sunshine.

Animal remains dumped over the past month have become a breeding ground for disease.

Residents report outbreaks of eye infections, stomach and throat ailments, hepatitis, cancer, and various skin diseases in surrounding areas.

In addition to Rawalpindi's waste, garbage from the newly formed Murree district and its Kotli Sattian tehsil is also being dumped at Losar. Around 20-30 garbage trucks from Islamabad and 30-40 from Rawalpindi offload waste here daily, without proper disposal — vehicles simply dump the trash in open areas.

The 1,200-kanal landfill has turned into a mountain range of filth. Attempts by locals to prevent Islamabad's waste from being dumped in Rawalpindi have failed.

The Environmental Protection and Climate Change Department has upheld the practice, and court battles initiated by residents have also ended in defeat.

Locals Chaudhry Raheel, Fayaz Gilani, and Haji Ibrahim said they set up a medical camp near the dumping ground and conducted check-ups for area residents.

Results claimed that 65 per cent of the people were infected with hepatitis, with cases also found among children. Eye and throat diseases were widespread.

They added that during the previous PTI-led Punjab government, plans were approved to shift the dumping ground to Chak Beli Khan — a remote area.

Land covering 1,000 kanals was acquired for this purpose, and a modern waste disposal plant, including a project to generate electricity from residual waste, was approved. The current government has shelved the project.

Deputy Medical Superintendent of Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, Dr Inayat, stated that medical and lab waste often ends up in the dumping ground and must be treated with special equipment.

If not, it poses serious health risks. He emphasised that chemical sprays should be applied daily at the site and that waste should be buried in dug-out pits rather than dumped openly.

Fayaz Gilani, chairman of a local action committee, said surveys show the waste has contaminated underground water. The group now plans to file a petition in the Rawalpindi bench of the High Court.