RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The managing director of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB), Dr. A.D. Sanjnani, has said that there is absolutely no system for separate collection of domestic, industrial, and hospital solid wastes, which are being dumped at garbage spots in the city, causing serious environmental hazards.

Underscoring the need for scientific disposal of solid waste, he said at a meeting of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and industry that the Board is currently examining the possibility of segregating domestic, industrial and hospital solid wastes so that all types of waste could be safely treated or recycled, and be dumped separately at landfill sites.

He said that industrialists should grant the SSWMB access to the points of origin of industrial waste, so that the volumes and nature of wastes produced by the industries could be scientifically ascertained in order to ensure safe transportation and dumping of the wastes into landfills.

He gave the assurance that all details provided to the SSWMB about industrial units and their solid waste would be kept confidential.

“We don’t want to carry out the dumping and disposal process haphazardly, and we want to do it more scientifically. Support and cooperation from industries will help in devising an integrated industrial solid-waste management system, besides assisting us in analyzing as to how much waste is being produced by pharmaceutical, textile, leather, plastic and other industries situated in all seven industrial zones of the city,” he added

He said that two landfill sites at Surjani Town’s Jam Chakhro and Deh Gondal Pass near the Northern Bypass exist and a third landfill site is being established where domestic, industrial and hospital waste will be treated and disposed of separately.

Admitting the fact the situation is not good, Dr. Sanjnani said that all concerned will have to work collectively and take prompt remedial steps. If the situation continues to go on like this, he added, Karachi will not be a livable city in the future.

In his own address earlier, the president of the Karachi Chamber, Shamim Ahmed Firpo, expressed grave concern over the pathetic cleanliness conditions in different parts of the city, where colossal amounts of litter are seen lying unattended, many at some of the busiest streets of Karachi.

“It is really worrisome that even the offal of sacrificial animals of Eid-ul-Azha have not been cleared as of today from some of the garbage dumping spots in different areas,” he said.

He added that the stink, which is “extremely annoying and pungent,” is posing a threat to the health of local residents, particularly children.

Commenting on the initiatives undertaken by the SSWMB and comparing the overall cleanliness scenario of Sindh with Punjab, he said that everything was doable but unfortunately due to lack of willingness, Sindh lags way behind Punjab in cleanliness.

It is highly unfair, he said, that the attention of the federal government remains limited to Punjab, with Sindh being constantly ignored.

At the same, it is discouraging that the Sindh government remains unbothered by the need to ensure a clean, healthy and hygienic atmosphere for the citizens, he complained. They continue to suffer badly from poor infrastructure, broken sewerage lines, dilapidated roads, unattended garbage, debris and offal, which usually trigger several epidemic diseases.

The president of the KCCI assured Dr. Sanjnani that the Karachi Chamber was ready to cooperate with the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board in any of its initiatives for ensuring a cleaner Karachi.

“A more aggressively strategy and enhanced resources are required for a cleaner Karachi which, despite being the financial, commercial and industrial hub of the country, is constantly being neglected and is not receiving its due share”, he added.