F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: While lashing out at Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) for dumping garbage in Acheni River near Phase II Hayatabad, the residents of Hayatabad, a residential area in provincial metropolitan, have asked relevant authorities to lift waste from this area which creates health issues for them.
As per information, the Acheni River traverses via entire Hayatabad area and mostly through Phase II, III and IV as the river remains dry throughout the year and only rainwater goes through it. Locals of the area complained that officials of PDA have started dumping garbage in the river being collect from parts of provincial city.
“As the smell of dumped garbage may cause serious health issues for those living on embankments of river” opined a 40-years old Zahid Khan of Peshawar while talking to this scribe. He informed that it mostly causes diseases like Allergy, Flu, Skin and others while it’s getting viral day by day.
Regarding the provincial government, he said it should take prompt action against the responsible officials what he called is heinous crime. Because of negligence of authorities, the issue remained unsolved for the last four years and it will lead them towards reaction if it is not solved on time, he warned.
Despite lodging complaints with relevant authorities, the PDA officials were least bothered to take action over the issue, said Jawad Khan of Hayatabad Peshawar. Earlier, he said the PDA officials were dumping garbage on opposite side of Phase III bridge but later the residents complained against storing garbage there. However, now PDA has begun to throw waste there in Acheni River, he alleged.
As the garbage is a threat to environment and it pollutes the environment at all, he remarked and adding that forthwith actions needs to be taken so that people get rid of this anymore.
It is worth mentioning here that provincial government had earlier allocated Rs 184 million for beautification of provincial city in April 2017 to reconstruct roads, pavements and also to change rusted pipelines.
According to a survey generated by National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK) the city of Peshawar generates 602 metric ton of solid waste daily and every person contributes 0.5 KG daily. While the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMAs) collect only 398 tons per day making the collection efficiency only 88 percent.
It further elaborates that the rest of the waste finds its way to sewerages pipes and drains, parks, play grounds or appears as heaps on roads and streets of the metropolitan causing nuisance for the general public.
