Daily Times

LAHORE: Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC) has chalked out a comprehensive disposal plan for animal waste collection from altar places to dumping sites in the wake of upcoming Eidul Azha.

Addressing a press conference on Friday, LWMC Managing Director Bilal Mustafa Syed informed media that union council chairmen and other elected representatives would be engaged in operational and awareness activities with an effective and result-oriented approach.

He said that LWMC sanitation arrangements were already completed in as many as seven major sacrificial animal markets across the city, adding that a total of 170 workers along with machinery and necessary gadgets have been deployed by setting up sanitation and awareness camps.

He said LWMC arrangements, including establishment of 274 sanitation camps with around machinery and establishment of 113 temporary waste collection and transfer stations covering animal waste of private housing societies, would be completed two days before Eidul Azha. Awareness material along with customised waste bags would be made available at the UC camps, major mosques and stores before the big occasion, he added.

As many as 274 sanitation camps in union councils and 18 other model camps in the city would help coordinate sanitation operations, he said, adding that in order to manage animal waste, LWMC would distribute about 1.5 million garbage bags among the citizens.

Similarly, he said, for prompt collection of animal waste, he said LWMC would hire pickups two days prior to the festive occasion for waste collection, distribution of garbage bags and spreading necessary awareness. A total of 846 pickups would be hired on the first day, 797 on second and 495 on third day of Eid, which would be deployed in all UCs, he added.

In addition to containers, he said, 113 temporary waste storage points for animal waste would be established wherever feasible. Bilal Mustafa said that animal waste collection and transportation is one of the major challenges for LWMC since its establishment.

“A large quantity of animal waste is produced across the city during the Eidul Azha days, while extraordinary arrangements are made by LWMC, as the entire staff of the company, including top management, remains in the field to ensure timely and transparent implementation of Eid plan for smooth delivery of services to the people of Lahore. These efforts can result in even better outcomes if residents of Lahore start lending helping hand to the workers by ensuring use of waste bags,” he added.

On the occasion, LWMC Chairman Ahmed Rafy Alam, LWMC Communication Head Jamil Khawar and other officials were also present.