-Muhammad Taimur Nadeem
Karachi is the biggest city of Pakistan with almost a population of 23,741,000. With such a big population, a lot of problems tend to rise up but Karachi’s main problem for years have been garbage. Karachi produces 14000 – 16000 tons of waste on a daily bases and without having a proper garbage system the mess we see now is not surprising.
Looking at this, Government of Sindh launched a campaign called ‘Clean my Karachi’ back in September hoping to clean Karachi and give the city of lights a refreshed look. The main aim of the Government was to clean the city and hand it over to the DMCs to further maintain it. Over 600 dumpers, shovels, tractors and 4000 workers participated in the one month long campaign on a daily bases to help cure the garbage problem in Karachi.
It is reported that the deputy commissioners were given 50 million each along with temporary garbage transfer stations. Under the guidance of the Chief Minister the garbage lifting work was divided on sub-division levels. Each division was given tractors, shovels and other necessary equipment needed in the campaign from the government. At the end of the campaign the estimated amount of solid waste collected at these sites was 370,504 tonnes which included 13,790 from South district, 52,152 from East district, 24,292 from Malir district, 93,630 from Korangi district, 96, 705 from West district and 89,935 Central district.
But the main question is that has this campaign by the government really solved the garbage problem of Karachi? Some might say yes it has but a vast majority of people fail to agree with this. The garbage problem in Karachi has been going on for years, years and years of waste has compiled to bring the huge mess we have at our disposal.
The project shows an intent from the government in-order to make Karachi clean but they haven’t emphasized on the real reason why Karachi has garbage problem in the first place. 40% of Karachi’s garbage is found out on the streets which have been causing various diseases and environmental pollution.
While talking to a residence of Korangi he stated that: ‘The government has done a good job but they clean the area and next day it is back in the same shape. This is due to the negligence of the residents and the solid waste management’.
There are no proper areas made for the residents to throw their waste at hence they tend to throw them on the roads. As much as the residents are to be blamed the solid waste management are to be blamed too who seem to be doing nothing to solve this problem.
The Deputy Director (Media) Ms. Almas Saleem was too busy to have a say on this issue while being contacted through phone which shows how serious people within the Solid waste management are.
‘Clean my Karachi’ was another farce with Karachi, lots of promises with no delivery. The credibility of the SIndh Government and other departments once again is being questioned due to another failed campaign. There was a lot of money spent in this campaign, or shall is say, allotted to various deputy commissioners. Looking at the garbage state of Karachi a month after the campaign shows that the money was not spent the right way and the real cause of the problem was never addressed.
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