In the heart of the city, a monumental menace — the Bhagatawala garbage dump — has been festering for decades, casting a toxic shadow on the lives of nearby residents who often complain of breathing ailments, skin allergies and stink.
The dump, a behemoth of waste sprawling over 10 hectares, has become a perpetual source of suffering, its noxious fumes and putrid stench leaving a trail of breathing and skin problems in its wake. The problems faced by the residents are amplified whenever there is a fire at the site. “It becomes difficult to breathe. Senior citizens and children are the most vulnerable,” said Sanjay Sharma, a resident.
The residents lament that despite the waste dump and the health hazards it causes, the government has not even ordered a fact-finding study to find its impact on the lives of people.
Since the 1990s, when the Municipal Corporation first started dumping waste at the site, the dump has been growing at an alarming rate, with a staggering 500 metric tonnes of waste added daily. The statistics are staggering — over 20 lakh metric tonnes of waste have accumulated, threatening to engulf the surrounding area.
The nearby grain market — the Bhagatawala Dana Mandi — the biggest in the region, is also under threat as there is no clear demarcation in the absence of a wall.
The residents, worn down by years of inaction, have been pleading for the dump’s relocation since 2006. Their cries for help have fallen on deaf ears, despite numerous protests, the formation of a Sangarsh committee, and the dump’s emergence as a recurring election issue.
The government’s responses have been woefully inadequate, with four failed attempts to resume bioremediation projects over the past eight years. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the residents of the area are left to wonder if their plight will ever be alleviated.
The Tribune
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