Daily Times

LAHORE: The Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has geared up to cope with wastes and other challenges on upcoming Eidul Azha as it will establish 274 Eid awareness camps, 18 model camps and 116 temporary waste collection and transfer stations in nine zones of the metropolis.

The purpose of the camps will be to create awareness among the people about keeping the streets clean and to make city waste-free on Eidul Azha, which will be observed on September 2-4.

The LWMC has also cancelled the holidays of more than 14,000 filed workers to make arrangements for Eid. This was revealed by LWMC Managing Director Bilal Mustafa during a meeting with journalists to share the company’s Eidul Azha plans at the Lahore Press Club on Thursday.

LWMC Deputy General Manager (Operations) Asif Iqbal also gave a briefing on the comprehensive plan.

According to the pre-Eid arrangements, the LWMC will distribute more than 2 million customised waste bags among citizen and hire over 1,000 additional pickups for effective waste collection at the union council (UC)-level from across the city.

The pickups will be hired two days before Eid at the UC-level for animal waste collection.

A total of 1,087 pickups would be hired on the first day, 1,025 on the second and 543 on the third day of Eid, which would be deployed in 274 UCs. Moreover, awareness camps will be established in each UC and two model camps in each zone of city.

As many as 650 vehicles – 310 of Albayrak and 340 of OzPak – will also be utilised for the campaign, including compactors, mechanical sweepers, mini dumpers, washing vehicles, loaders and dumpers.

According to the plan, LWMC will establish 18 model camps at Shadman Chowk, Shalimar Link Road, Bhaati Chowk, Fort Road, Chowk Yateem Khana, Shahdara, Dubai Chowk Iqbal Town, Lakshmi Chowk, Allah Hoo Chowk, Liberty Roundabout, Thokar Niaz Baig, Shad Bagh Gol Bagh, Harbanspura, Charing Cross, Daroghawala, Jallo Morr, Railway and Dharampura.

The LWMC will carry out a zero-waste operation on ‘chand raat’ in the metropolis. Lime powder will extensively be used during Eidul Azha around eidgahs, mosques, graveyards, containers, major roads, streets, major markets and commercial centres. Further, phenyl will be used as disinfectant and to curb the odour along containers, eidgahs and mosques.

Albayrak and OzPak will also install 46 yellow containers, 154 trolleys and 57 T-loaders to make arrangements at 199 quban gahs in the city for efficient waste collection and transportation to the disposal sites, including Lakhodair, Saggian and Tibba.

According to the plan, estimated 660 tonnes of animal waste will be gathered from 109,000 sacrificial animals.

The LWMC will also cover the animal waste with soil after Eid and undertake a complete cleanliness operation at closure of animal markets (during night) on the third day of Eid.

LWMC MD Bilal Mustafa said that the company was going to set up 274 eid camps across the city to distribute waste bags, information material and for on-the-spot redressal of waste-related complaints. He said that citizens should use garbage bags for removing animal waste instead of dumping them along the streets. He said that workers would be performing duties with proper gadgets and tools inside the camps where littering will be checked and zero-waste environment maintained throughout the day.

He said that deputy mayors, UC chairmen and other elective representatives would also be engaged in operational and awareness activities to make the drive effective and result-oriented.

He said that collection and transportation of animal waste on Eidul Azha was one of the biggest challenges for the LWMC since its establishment, during which a large quantity of animal waste is produced across the city. “Arrangements are being made and the entire staff the company, including top management, remains in the field to make sure the implementation of Eid plan for the smooth delivery of services to the people of Lahore.”

“These efforts can result in even better outcomes if residents of Lahore start lending a helping hand to the workers by ensuring use of provided waste bags,” he said.

Published in Daily Times, August 25^th 2017.