ISLAMABAD - Air pollution increasing day by day in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi caused by the steel and marble factories set up in the nearby industrial areas I-9. Dozen of marble and steel factories, set up in twin cities are one of the major contributors to air pollution. The residents frequently complain of diseases like chest congestion and asthma, which are directly linked to air pollution according to doctors. The marble factories caused air and noise pollution also. These factories throw their waste into the nearby natural streams. None of these factories follow any environmental or labour laws, says Aslam Tahir, a worker. He said most of the workers developed chest diseases due to inhaling dust frequently and that the factory owners adopted no safety precautions.
“We are living in worst environmental conditions, but the CDA, despite growing concerns among inhabitants of this area over the air pollution, has remained indifferent”, Naveed Ahsan, a resident of I-9 sector while talking to the agency said.
When contacted, CDA official, he said the authority was pursuing industrialists, with a special focus on steel and marble factories, to use treatment plants to filter hazardous smoke emissions. The official agreed that the residents of the sectors close to the industrial area were suffering from air pollution, and as a result they were more prone to respiratory diseases. He said the authority had devised a plan to check air pollution in the federal capital territory.
Meanwhile, the encroachment activities are going unchecked in federal capital, despite tall claims of civic body to take action against encroachments on foothpaths.
It is not only causing inconvenience to the pedestrians, but also poses threat as some shops selling glass items dump glass pieces and other waste on the footpath, said a visitor at Aabpara market.
Different areas including Aabpara, Peshawar More, Karachi Company and other places have not still been cleared from the encroachment by the vendors and shopkeepers. M Ramazan, a resident of G-6, said that footpaths in the busy markets are being misused by the area shopkeepers.
The residents also complained of growing encroachments in the market causing inconvenience for the pedestrian and motorists. They appealed to the concerned authorities to remove these encroachments to provide a smooth way for pedestrians and other people, visiting the market.
An official of the CDA when contacted said that the concerned authorities have strictly warned the vendors and others to avoid encroachment, adding that CDA also confiscated several goods items from the footpaths. He said that CDA was committed to discourage and stop the activities of the vendors and shopkeepers on the footpaths.
The people of federal capital have welcomed the steps initiated by the concerned authorities against encroachments on footpaths and public places, but expressed disappointment over its slow pace of action.