KARACHI: The Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has warned six cantonment boards, government and private functionaries and industrial sector to desist practice of dumping garbage and filth in open places and storm drains. The entities had been served with more than six reminders in this connection in the last eight months by the SSWMB. The Karachi Military Land and Cantonment Board director general has also been requested to play his due role directing the cantonment boards to adopt fair practices while dumping filth and garbage. Besides, Pakistan Railways, Karachi Port Trust, units of Sindh Industrial Trading Estate, Civil Aviation Authority and other private and government organisations have also been asked not to dump garbage in open spaces and drains. The SSWMB was of the view that all of them were expected to transport their sold waste, including silt and garbage, to designated landfill sites for duping. SSWMB is maintaining computerised weighbridges at both landfill sites and also re-designed weighbridge slips and now each slip has a unique book and serial number. Different colours are being used for proper identification of weight slips issued by the SSWMB. Taking into consideration the importance of safe disposal of solid waste due to serious environmental pollution and public health hazard issues associated with improper dumping of garbage, SSWMB has said that by following proper dumping practices, the port city would become clean. Talking to Daily Times, Dr Attar Das Sajnani, acting director general, said that 21 different organisations were working on solid waste management in Karachi, including Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Railway, Civil Aviation Authority of Pakistan, Pakistan Steel Mills, Port Qasim Authority, six Cantonment Boards and same number of district municipal corporations. Meanwhile, Karachi Cantonment Board, Faisal Cantonment Board, Clifton Cantonment Board, Malir Cantonment Board, SITE industries, Civil Aviation Authority, Port Qasim, Bahria Town and Pakistan Steel Mills have also been informed through SSWMB letters that they should follow the dumping of garbage in accordance with the laws. He said action could be taken if these entities fail to comply with the directives of the SSWMB. KPT is dumping its port waste and garbage into the Arabian Sea, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has claimed. “The KPT is responsible for provision of civic services, including solid waste management, in its vast administrative jurisdiction. “It has been observed with serious concern that most contractors of KMC, DMC’s, after de-silting of drains, do not bother to clear the sites, and instead of lifting and transporting garbage and silt to landfill sites, leave the same on site and banks of drains,” he said. The department has requested the aforementioned entities to look into the matter and instruct their respective solid waste management staff, including contractor and sanitary workers, to stop the practice of dumping solid waste in open spaces. Published in Daily Times, October 24th 2017.