Mardan – The Chamtar dumping ground has suffered from poor planning and neglect by the district and local administration for more than three decades, while a new dumping ground project worth billions of rupees is also facing questions amid opposition and protests from the local population.
According to official records, 228 kanals of land was acquired in Chamtar village in 1993 for the dumping ground. Millions of rupees were spent on land preparation and the construction of trenches for waste disposal. However, despite the passage of three decades, the site could not be converted into an effective and permanent waste disposal facility.
Meanwhile, about Rs8 billion have been allocated for the new dumping ground project under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project (KPCIP). However, concerns have emerged over the completion of the project due to opposition and protests by the local population. According to sources, legal proceedings are also underway regarding the project, while concerns have been raised that any delay could affect or even lead to the withdrawal of financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Residents of the area have expressed reservations about the project and demanded that the government and district administration take the local population into confidence, address their concerns and resolve all legal issues through negotiations.
Mardan city is already facing a serious garbage disposal problem, while poor sanitation and cleanliness in the city and surrounding areas are causing difficulties for citizens.
Public representatives have demanded that political leaders, the Deputy Commissioner Mardan and the DPO Mardan bring all concerned parties to the negotiating table and find a workable solution so that the project, worth billions of rupees, does not become a victim of disputes and delays.
