TAXILA: Proper solid waste management has become increasingly difficult for the residents of Taxila, as the Rawalpindi Solid Waste Management Company (RSWMC) has failed to take over the reins of proper garbage disposal, despite a lapse of 16 days.

According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the company and the city managers last year, the RSWMC was scheduled to take control from April 1.

Sources said for proper waste disposal, the provincial government had devised a system on the pattern of Lahore, and MoU was signed between the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA) and RSWMC to launch a scientifically-designed waste disposal facility in Taxila.

“There is a dire need for the project in the city, as people are suffering from poor and manually-controlled solid waste disposal system,” said Tahir Suleman, a social worker in the area.

“Proper and modern solid waste management system is a pipe dream of the citizens of Taxila,” said Asim Meer, the president of an NGO, The Voice, which works in the areas of environment and sanitation.

He said some time ago, people of the city were first informed that the city’s sanitation would be handed over to some Turkish firm, but later they were told that RSWMC would be given the charge. But both claims proved to be an eye wash.

Rasheed Mughal who works in the field of public health, said unscientific methods and lack of technical expertise had led the TMA to openly dump solid waste and burn it to reduce the volume.

When contacted, the tehsil municipal officer (TMO), Qamar Zeeshan, said that TMA and RSWMC have signed an MoU, to take over the solid waste management of Taxila tehsil, along with six other tehsils of Rawalpindi district.

He said as per the MoU, the budget approved for the project, in the fiscal year 2013-14, had been transferred to RSWMC.

He said that 43 permanent and 47 daily-wage staff, as well as the stores and machinery of the concerned department, have also been put together at their disposal, accordingly.

He further added that the TMA was eagerly waiting for the company to take over the charge of the project, but they have been violating the agreement by not doing anything practically, so far.

The managing director of RSWMC, Irfan Ahmed Qureshi, said that, as per the MoU, the company is liable to take the control of the solid waste management of Taxila tehsil.

The transferred funds and the manpower are at the disposal of the company, he said, adding that there is a delay due to some “technical” reasons. However, he said that the company would launch its working in Taxila very soon.