SHANGLA: The residents of Tum, Bisham tehsil, have complained that fruit sellers, butchers and other shopkeepers are dumping waste along the Karakoram Highway (KKH) or throwing it into Khan Khwar River, causing pollution and a constant nuisance for them and the commuters.

They said that the traders were dumping rotten fruit and vegetable and other waste along the KKH filling the entire area with stinking smell. A large number of tourists use KKH which put a bad impression on the visitors. Besides, a number of government and non-government organisations’ offices are situated in Tum area.

Arshad Yousafzai, a resident, said that dumping garbage at roadside was the main cause of environmental pollution.

He said that the area was out of reach of TMA and as such Tum had been turned into a wasteland. “Whenever we pass from Tum area we have to cover our nose due to the bad smell,” he said.

Naveed Ahmed, an NGO official at Tum, said that his office was located opposite to the dumping site. He said that fruit sellers threw rotten fruit at this so-called garbage site and in the river early in the morning.

He said that butchers slaughtered animals in open in Tum area along Khan Khwar and threw the remains into the river.

The residents of Bisham have demanded of the authorities concerned to take action against the butchers and shopkeepers and deploy TMA officials to keep the area clean.

When contacted, assistant commissioner Javed Iqbal said that he would take action if he received any complaint about dumping of waste by the traders.

Meanwhile, deputy commissioner Dildar Ahmed has imposed ban on local production and use of flavoured and non-flavoured sheesha tobacco.

According to a notification here on Wednesday, Section 144 has been imposed on the use and production of flavoured and non-flavoured sheesha tobacco.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2016