GUJRAT: Keeping in view the rapid urbanisation and limited resources of the civic authorities to keep the city clean, Deputy Commissioner Mehtab Waseem has sought establishment of the Gujrat Waste Management Company (GtWMC).

He recently sent a proposal to the Local Government & Community Development Department seeking formation of the GtWMC, its board of directors, budget etc.

According to the proposal, the city’s population went up from 350,000 to 500,800 in the last one decade whereas there had been an increase of around 250pc in the areas of Gujrat Municipal Corporation due to urbanisation. It said that since Gujrat had been an important part of industrial triangle of Gujranwala region, the city might urgently require a separate waste management company as the resources of the civic agency to maintain cleanliness had been reduced significantly. For instance, the proposal added, the current areas of Gujrat MC produced at least 260 tonne solid waste daily as compared to around 170 about 10 years ago whereas the capacity of the MC’s sanitation branch to lift solid waste was only increased from 90 to 100 tonne.

Moreover, the official reports said the sanitary staff of the MC had reduced from 728 to 528 during the last 10 years and there had been an increase of only 16pc in the equipment and machinery to lift the solid waste.

The incapacitated civic agency did not have the authority to recruit human resource or procure machinery to overcome a crisis-like situation, said an official privy to the proposal. He added that establishment of the GtWMC and formation of its autonomous BoD would enable the company to address all those issues solely.

It is learnt that the DC has also sought a one-time financial grant for the initial procurement and other administrative requirements as well as annual grant in the budget approved by the BoD.

Sources said Federal Minister for Water Resources Chaudhry Moonis Elahi had earlier been briefed by the authorities on the issue to use his influence for the approval of a solid waste company.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2021