RAWALPINDI: Frustrated by the lack of action from the city administration, the residents of Losar village have announced a protest campaign to address their concerns over the Losar landfill site.
The campaign aims to prevent trucks from entering the area for waste dumping, as the villagers contend that their demands have been ignored for far too long.
The Losar landfill site, originally designated for waste from Rawalpindi, has become a cause for concern as it’s now being used for dumping by both Islamabad and nearby cantonments and factories.
Local activist Fayaz Hussain Gilani, a member of the Losar Kachra Kundi Action Committee, alleged that officials from the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) were involved in taking bribes and dumping garbage in the area.
The residents have also expressed strong opposition to the Capital Development Authority’s (CDA) plans to acquire 1,200 acres of land on Chak Belli Road for another landfill site.
With the area already facing health issues and infections due to its proximity to the landfill, locals are fed up with the negligence.
The groundwater has become polluted, causing foul-smelling water in household wells and a surge in medical complications among residents, especially women and children.
As per the details, the residents have raised concerns at various forums and held discussions with officials, including the Rawalpindi commissioner, but feel that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
In response, the Rawalpindi administration claims to be engaged with relevant departments, including the Punjab Environment Protection Department, but locals accuse it of aligning with the CDA’s interests.
Gilani revealed that over 150,000 people are directly affected by the landfill site, with residents of Bagga Sheikhan Union Council (UC) being the worst hit.
Moreover, numerous UCs, including Takht Pari and Basali, have reported a significant rise in skin ailments, water-borne diseases, and respiratory issues.
Despite promises and commitments from authorities to address the landfill issue, Gilani remains skeptical due to past unfulfilled pledges.
It is worth noting that the landfill site, initially promised as a future park, became a garbage dump.
Even after a petition in the Lahore High Court and a public hearing acknowledging residents’ grievances, tangible solutions are yet to materialize.
Source: Tribune
