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KARACHI, July 18: Inadequate logistics, shortage of sanitary staff and absence of dumping grounds are main constraints in overcoming environmental problems across the province.
These observations were made by the participants of a training course on solid waste management organised by the Municipal Training and Research Institute (MTRI). The one-week course was inaugurated on July 16.
The course was specially designed for the functionaries of the local bodies.
Coming from various districts and union councils of Sindh and Balochistan, nazims, naib nazims and municipal officers and sanitary inspectors also saw unchecked production and use of polythene bags and their incorrect disposal as a major obstacle to the waste management.
According to MTRI Principal Mohammad Afzal Arain, the objective of the training course is to develop a model for self-financed solid waste management and disposal, identify possible hazardous waste and practices of safe disposal and management of waste through community participation.
Discussing the problem of waste management in the cities of Sindh, one official said that the absence of official dumping sites was largely being felt, particularly when the owners of the agricultural lands surrounding the cities had stopped allowing the municipalities to throw the city solid waste in their land further.
Now, the owners or caretakers were discarding the waste as it included polythene bags and other materials which could degrade their soil, noted one of the participants, saying that the protection of the environment from degradation was very essential for sustainable life.
Speakers also laid emphasis on the improvement of the system meant for collection and transportation of garbage outside the city.
The long ban on employment of people in the government sector was also discussed at the workshop and it was viewed that the strength of sanitary staff, almost in all districts and union councils, had reduced for a couple of reasons, while on the other hand hiring of people on a contract basis was also not bearing any fruit.
It was also noted that one or two landfill sites or dumping grounds in major cities would not work as the transportation of garbage not only consumed considerable time but also cost the government extraordinarily, and as such more landfill sites should be ensured.
The authorities should make the system a cost-effective process, avoiding pilferages allegedly taking place in the garbage transportation business, another official said.
Participation and cooperation of the households was also sought for segregation of wastes at the source and then after their timely collection from houses.
It was observed in deliberations made during the course that people, most of the time, put the waste outside their houses only after the sanitation staff completed the collection round, which was incorrect.
