Irfan Tahir Chohan
RAWALPINDI: An open field located on Dhammiyal Road in the Jhwarah area of Chaklala Cantonment Board has reportedly turned into a dumping ground, with accumulated garbage and overgrown bushes creating serious concerns among local residents.
According to residents, the field near Street No. 4, Jhwarah, has been neglected by the sanitation authorities, allowing piles of waste and dense vegetation to spread across the area.
The residents say the decomposing garbage has created an unpleasant smell and foul conditions, while stagnant waste and the presence of mosquitoes have raised concerns about the spread of diseases and other public-health risks.
The overgrown bushes and accumulated waste have also reportedly contributed to security concerns. Residents allege that the area has become a hiding place for drug users and suspected criminal elements, particularly during nighttime.
According to local residents, suspicious individuals are frequently seen taking shelter behind the bushes after dark, while some citizens have allegedly been deprived of valuables in incidents reported in the vicinity.
Residents further claim that suspected robbers can use the dense vegetation to hide after committing offences, making passage through the area particularly intimidating for women, children and elderly people.
The deteriorating condition has also affected the appearance and cleanliness of the neighbourhood, with residents saying that repeated complaints to the Chaklala Cantonment Board’s Sanitation Branch have so far failed to result in effective and permanent action.
They said neither the accumulated garbage has been completely removed nor have the bushes been cleared through a sustained cleaning operation.
Civic and social circles have called on the Director General Military Lands and Cantonments and the Executive Officer of Chaklala Cantonment Board to take immediate notice of the situation.
They have demanded the immediate removal of garbage, complete clearance of the overgrown vegetation and the establishment of a permanent waste-management and maintenance system to prevent the site from becoming a dumping ground again.
Residents say timely action is necessary not only to restore cleanliness but also to address concerns relating to public health, environmental sanitation and community safety.
