ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has drawn public backlash by persisting with its waste dumping activities at the Losar Dumping Site in Rawalpindi, despite explicit stay orders issued by the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi Bench.
Residents have voiced their opposition, threatening to file a contempt of court petition against the civic body.
The LHC’s Rawalpindi Bench, presided over by Judge Justice Jawad Hasan, adjourned the hearing of petitions challenging the CDA’s agreement with the Rawalpindi administration regarding the disposal of building materials and hospital waste within Rawalpindi’s boundaries.
Furthermore, the court has extended the injunction prohibiting the allocation of an additional 1,200 acres of land, along with a dumping ground spanning 1,200 acres, to the CDA at Losar.
The court dismissed the CDA’s plea for an adjournment until September, which asserted that all involved parties must be fully prepared for the next hearing.
The court intends to make a merit-based decision after hearing all arguments.
The petitions have been filed by seven residents of Losar and nearby areas, as well as three brick kiln owners, who demand the relocation of the dumping site.
In their petitions, they argue that the district administration indiscriminately dumps waste from across Rawalpindi at the Losar site, leading to the spread of diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, and various ailments affecting the stomach, nose, and skin among the residents in the vicinity.
In response to the petitions, the court has ordered the termination of the dumping ground agreement.
Consequently, the Rawalpindi administration has identified a new piece of land on Chak Bely Khan Road as an alternative dumping site.
It has been shared that despite the court’s orders, the Rawalpindi administration has agreed to provide the CDA with an additional 1,200 acres of land, including a new dumping site.
Residents of Losar argue that the CDA has abundant land within the Islamabad Capital Territory and should establish a dumping ground within its jurisdiction instead.
Yesterday, Noor Ul Amin Mengal, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), took to Twitter to announce a significant waste management development in Islamabad.
All clear now ✅. This is designated transfer station of CDA. Waste collected within Islamabad is temporarily shifted here and is finally disposed at Losar Land filling site near Rawat, District Rawalpindi. https://t.co/1ZBT2ghFkA pic.twitter.com/YgLcusefbj
— Noor Ul Amin Mengal (@Noormengal_) May 17, 2023
Mengal stated that the current designated transfer station for the CDA temporarily stores waste collected from various areas in Islamabad before its final disposal at the Losar Landfill Site near Rawat, situated in the Rawalpindi District.
The ongoing defiance of court orders by the CDA has sparked concerns among residents, who urge the authorities to prioritize public health and find sustainable waste management solutions that align with legal directives.
