According to statistics provided by the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), the city produces 850 to 900 tonnes of waste every day. PHOTO: REUTERS
Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Inayatullah Khan inaugurated the campaign at the Peshawar Press Club.
According to statistics provided by the Water and Sanitation Services Peshawar (WSSP), the city produces 850 to 900 tonnes of waste every day. Thanks to lack of urban planning as the city sprawls into a major urban centre of the region, most nooks and corners of Peshawar are home to large dumps of solid waste. According to the WSSP, only 58% of the city’s waste is disposed properly. Khan, however, claims to have pushed the rate to 75% in three months.
Elaborating on the ongoing drive, the minister said around 20,000 tonnes of waste will be cleared during the two months. Khan said the city has been divided into four zones with officers and sub-officers appointed for every zone.
Also speaking on the occasion, WSSP Chief Executive Muhammad Naeem said the drive will only meet its targets if the public cooperates.
Referring to sanitation issues, Naeem said 22 kilometre-long rusty pipelines have been replaced and a testing lab has been set up in Hayatabad in order to keep tabs on the quality of water being supplied.
Solid waste management
A ‘Waste to Energy’ project was also announced. Naeem said a solid waste management plant will be constructed in Mariamzai, Badhaber. “Six firms have been shortlisted for the project and work will begin once a contractor is selected,” he added. Khan said the plant will produce 10 to 13 megawatts of electricity. The previous government had also planned to construct three such plants in the city but the project never materialised.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 10th, 2015.
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