A new garbage dumping site established on three acres of land at the Sunday Bazaar in Rawalpindi has triggered a health crisis in adjacent densely populated areas. Twenty-one days after its setup, cases of conjunctivitis, skin infections, and itching have reportedly spread among residents.
Residents Appeal for Immediate Action
Residents have urged the government and deputy commissioner to conduct immediate spraying operations in nearby localities to protect people from disease and also spray the waste heaps. Social workers and human rights activists have appealed to Commissioner Amir Khattak and Deputy Commissioner Waqar Cheema, emphasizing that the establishment of a dumping site in a densely populated residential and commercial area has made life difficult for nearby residents.
Health and Environmental Hazards
Citizens report being unable to sleep at night due to the stench, while mosquitoes, flies, insects, rats, and mongooses have multiplied around the garbage heaps. Kites, crows, and vultures are also seen in large numbers searching for food. According to residents, eye infections have spread among children and women in nearby streets, causing redness and irritation, while skin itching has also been reported.
Demands for Relocation
Residents demanded immediate spraying in all surrounding areas and called for relocating the dumping site outside the city. The Citizen Action Committee stated that authorities had assured residents that the site would be shifted outside the city by Friday.
