January 23, 2008	Wednesday	Muharram 13, 1429

KARACHI, Jan 22: Although proper lifting of garbage has become a citywide problem, the situation is even worse in many densely populated localities in Saddar, Lyari and Site towns.

In many of these localities, trash can be seen strewn all over the streets and garbage burning on roadsides and in parks. The situation clearly points towards the inefficiency of the civic agencies and departments responsible for the collection and management of solid waste generated in the city.

The situation has aggravated in towns like Saddar, Keamari, Site and Lyari where garbage accumulation in the absence of an effective disposal system has become a health hazard and a cause of inconvenience to the area residents.

The municipal officials of these towns have always complained of a shortage of funds, a lack of transportation facilities and sanitary staff.

A survey of these towns shows that the most of the efforts made by the relevant agencies are focussed on short-term initiatives. In Lyari Town efforts are being made to introduce a mechanised sweeping system at night.

However, the project has been limited to a few roads like Shah Waliullah Road, parts of Shah Latif Bhittai Road and Chawkiwara Road due to which the desired results cannot be achieved as dumping of garbage is still being carried out in all the link roads.

Apart from this, a number of primary designated garbage dumping sites have vanished as the land mafia has reportedly constructed high-rises on these spots. Due to this reason, people are left with no choice but to dump garbage where ever they can. Eventually, heaps of garbage have emerged at every street corner, aggravating the situation further.

Ironically the sanitary workers do not collect garbage from these undesignated disposal spots, which have turned into a permanent nuisance for the ordinary citizens.

The city government as well as the town administrations have so far miserably failed to come to the rescue. People of these areas have always complained of the municipal authorities’ inefficiency and their indifferent attitude towards the intolerable unhygienic conditions.