ISLAMABAD: Allotees of Sector I-12 have requested the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to completely remove decades-old garbage, saying the sector is no longer the waste dumping site.

Though the dumping was formally stopped and the site was reclassified for residential use, thousands of tons of waste still littered the area. The CDA`s failure to remove waste has drawn widespread criticism.

Jamshed Rehman, an allottee of the Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA) apartments in Sector I-12, said the CDA was ignoring the problem.

`I recently visited the sector, where garbage was strewn and no serious effort was being been made to manage it and to develop the sector. I saw a few dumpers moving slowly or idling, wasting diesel and fuel but not addressing the issue. The air was polluted and the ground was uneven,` he said.

He further said that the CDA has earned significant revenue from the sale of commercial and residentialplotsin the sector,buthas notreinvested the funds in proper maintenance, infrastructure development and the disposal of this hazardous waste.

The garbage is not only unsightly but also releases harmful pollutants into the air, water, and soil, with detrimental effects on air and groundwater.

`The decomposition of waste releases dangerous gases such as methane and carbon dioxide, which worsen the greenhouse effect and contribute to climate change.

`The spread of particulate has affected air quality, putting the future residents at risk,` he said.

Fahad Hameed, another allottee in the sector, explained: `Filling the land with garbage is releasing harmful gases after decomposition. This process produces methane and other toxic gases, which degrade air quality and intensify the climate crisis. It`s not just an eyesore, it`s a health hazard as well.

Aftab Ujjan, another allottee, said: `Thousands of tons of waste are sitting in the sector. The liquid leach-ate that seeps from this decomposing waste can contaminate groundwater and surface water.

The soil itself is at risk of becoming toxic. These conditions can become breeding grounds for pests and disease-carrying insects, and the constant foul odours will make life unbearable for future residents.

Allottees called on CDA Chairman Mohammad Ali Randhawa to intervene urgently and ensure proper disposal of all waste from the sector to avoid future environmental disasters and protect public health.

They stress that failure to do so will result in longterm environmental damage, health risks, and irreversible harm to a sector that was once envisioned as a clean and liveable community.