The Punjab government has declared a severe ban on the illegal disposal of offal and sacrificial animals before Eid ul Azha. The provincial government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, has decided a hefty fine of Rs 50,000 for those found littering animal waste on roads, streets or public places.
Compliance will be checked and violators identified through the use of dedicated vigilance squads which will be deployed across all major cities during festive holidays, to monitor compliance and catch violators. For the sake of maintaining public hygiene and complying with the law, here are 3 key rules to be followed during proper disposal of animal wastes during Eid.
No Dumping in Public Streets, Roads, Drains, or Canals
Throwing animal remains into any open public space is the most important of the new law.
The Rule: Offal/blood/entrails are NOT permitted on a neighbourhood street, main road, open plot, sewage or local canal.
Immediate action by field teams including a flat fine of Rs 50,000 along with legal proceedings will be taken for any violations.
What it means: When waste is thrown into open spaces it poses serious environmental risks, congests sewer systems, and contributes to urban flooding during rain storms. The special cleaning operations are being monitored under strict surveillance in the normal residential areas, railway colony and cantonment boards for zero tolerance of street littering.
Utilize Only Designated Collection Points and Official Waste Bags
Citizens have obligations to use the institutional waste management resources rather than to take the disposal issues in their own hands.
The Rule: Sacrificial remains are securely packed in standard biodegradable bags which are generally provided for free by waste management companies (e.g. Lahore Waste Management Company (LWMC)) provided at the community level and delivered to pre-arranged waste collection bins or directly to the mobile waste collection trucks.
Enforcement: Local administrative departments and emergency response control rooms will be open 24/7 for 72 consecutive hours throughout the Eid period in order to collect waste in a timely manner.
Pro-Tip: If there is no door to door collection of trash in your locality, then call the district Municipality or go to the official website of the Punjab Government to find the nearest designated collection station or temporary waste dump before slaughtering your animal.
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Slaughter Animals Only Inside Approved Cattle Markets or Private Zones
The provincial government has imposed tight limits on the areas in which animals can be sold, purchased and slaughtered before the holidays.
The Rule: The slaughter and unlicensed slaughtering of sacrificial animals out of the specified official cattle markets are completely prohibited. Illegal roadside livestock camps will be confiscated by local police and deputy commissioners.
Slaughtering is allowed in your own courtyard, but must be thoroughly swept and areas disinfected immediately with blood deodorants (limes powder or disinfectants) to prevent the entry of pests and neutralize the smell of blood. Municipal staff will now spray commercial markets and public Eidgah spaces on a regular basis in order to keep the environment very clean.
