KARACHI, Dec. 5: Inadequate arrangements for safe disposal of solid waste have enhanced the number of garbage dumps in almost all parts of the city.

It leaves no option for the people but to burn the garbage, which threatens the environment and exposes them to various diseases.

The situation has turned serious in Gulshan-i-Iqbal, block 13 area, where inhabitants have complained of facing a difficulty in breathing fresh air even within their four walls.

Ironically, incomplete road repair work, in various areas, is complicating the situation. Katcha tracts of the otherwise busy thoroughfares keep the area people exposed to dust impact of which on public health is well-imaginable.

Lamenting the concerned civic agency for its indifferent attitude towards the citizens, an area resident said the inability of the concerned institution had hampered the use of footpaths for long, as they had been turned into junkyards.

According to Mrs. Samad it were some of the residents who without seeking an approval of their neighbours decided to put on fire these heaps, almost every alternate day, making life miserable to patients, suffering from asthma and respiratory ailments.

Burning of the domestic waste, along with dried leaves, grass, chopped branches of trees has, however, provided no solace to the people as the ash cannot be removed by them and their existence has turned the atmosphere all the more polluted.

Ashraf Zohair, a senior citizen, held the people equally responsible for the situation, as according to him they were generally very keen to keep their homes clean but are a little reluctant to properly dispose of the garbage.

This very indifference and lack of civic sense has prevented us to adopt any concrete measure on a strong footing, he said, mentioning that efforts made by a few active residents to pool resources and ensure proper and safe disposal of garbage on regular basis has not been well received by a vast majority of the area people.

MALIR: Garbage heaps are also seen on roadsides in Malir area where the town staff was not properly disposing of the garbage.