By Our Correspondent
Residents in Bo city and its environs have complained about the apparent inability of the City Council to regularly collect garbage particularly in the city centre and at a place called Mile Five on the road linking Bo district in the south to Tonkolili in the north.
In random interviews conducted on the streets of the city, the people told Politico that the situation at Mile Five has developed over a two- year period as the council has been unable to stop people from dumping rubbish in the area.
They argued that because there are no clearly designated areas to deposit rubbish, many individuals and business houses have been doing so indiscriminately.
Speaking to Politico, the Waste Disposal and Land Manager of the Bo city council said the council has heard the cries of the public and as a “responsible institution” they will address the situation.
Bockarie James Kasso described the Fenton road dumpsite as illegal, noting that people bring garbage from their homes in vehicles and deposit them at Fenton road. He said they have imposed fines on people depositing garbage there from time to time.
Kasso explained that the garbage at Mile Five is the responsibility of the Bo District Council, suggesting that the original dumpsite may have overflowed, affecting traffic going to the north of the country. He called on residents of Bo to stop depositing garbage at the Fenton Road site.
Councilor Joseph P. Foday of Bo city council said the council is concerned about the mounds of garbage at Fenton road. He said: "It is in the middle of the city. It is not an ideal place to deposit garbage. It blocks traffic and leaves a pungent smell in the area”. He said the situation on Fenton was discussed in a recent meeting of the City C.
Councilor Foday said the council does not have enough garbage trucks and would need more fuel to serve the many runs the few vehicles they have, are doing.
Mohamed Jalloh, a businessman at Fenton road said the council is not treating the waste management issue seriously. He said: “Each time I see the garbage at Fenton Road I feel ashamed. This should not happen at the main business place. We have visitors who come to Bo and see that place."
Musa Charles, a trader at Bojon street stated the Bo City council has failed them, noting that traders were now “tired of complaining to the council about this issue’’.
Copyright © Politico Online (23/11/22)
