Stagnant water, illegal dumping and traffic congestion fuel calls for immediate clearance
RAWALPINDI:
Nearly three months after Pakistan Railways demolished several encroachments on its land along Dhoke Ratta Road in compliance with court orders, the debris remains uncleared, leaving a substantial section of the road obstructed, disrupting traffic flow and raising concerns over public safety and environmental health.
Railways carried out the anti-encroachment operation approximately three months ago using heavy machinery, demolishing more than eight houses and over a dozen shops built on railway land in accordance with court directives.
The operation left several families displaced and adversely affected the livelihoods of numerous traders. However, despite the completion of the demolition drive, the rubble has yet to be removed from the site.
Residents said that the debris has occupied almost half the width of Dhoke Ratta Road for the past three months, causing daily traffic congestion and significantly increasing the risk of accidents, particularly during night-time hours.
They further said that recent monsoon rains have led to stagnant water collecting within the rubble, creating favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes and insects and posing an increasing public health risk to nearby residents.
Local people also alleged that, owing to the prolonged delay in clearing the debris, the site has effectively become an illegal dumping ground, where solid waste and other refuse are being discarded from different parts of the city.
According to residents, several trolleys unload construction waste and household refuse at the location under the cover of darkness, exacerbating environmental pollution and creating a persistent foul odour in the surrounding area.
Residents said they had repeatedly approached the Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC), the Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and the relevant officials of Pakistan Railways to seek the removal of the debris. However, they claimed they had been passed from one department to another without any practical action being taken.
They alleged that both the RWMC and the RMC had maintained that the matter fell within the jurisdiction of Pakistan Railways.
Attempts were made to obtain comments from officials of Pakistan Railways, the RWMC and the RMC. However, no response had been received by the time this report was filed.
