Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 30: Dumping of garbage just few meters away from the residential area has created manifold problems for the inhabitants especially the old age people.
Hundreds of families living in Akramabad area of Ward Number 7 of the main town Doda are living under threat of health hazard. Not only the elders, but the younger children are also vulnerable to any health hazard due to heaps of garbage.
As per reports available, the waste collected from all the Municipal Committee wards of the Doda town is being dumped near densely populated Akramabad area of Ward Number 7, which has created manifold problems for the people living in the area.
“Garbage dumping site has always been assumed as breeding site for the insects and this can be hazardous for the people living near and around the site, which is hardly a kilometer from the District Headquarters and few meters from the densely populated Ward Number 7 of the Doda town”, the residents said while interacting with the EXCELSIOR.
Foul smell emitting out from the garbage dumping site has also made the life of the people miserable, they said and questioned that in case of outbreak of any disease, who will be responsible?.
“Heaps of garbage accumulated in Akramabad dumping site is only due to non-seriousness of the administration towards the health of the people”, the residents said, adding that tonnes of waste is being dumped in unscientific manner at this site.
The residents demanded shifting of garbage dumping site from their locality. A large number of cattle can be easily seen wandering on the heaps of garbage and can easily contribute to any health hazard, the residents added.
Despite repeated requests to shift the garbage dumping site from Akramabad area, the authorities have turned a blind eye toward this grave issue, the residents alleged.
When contacted, Executive Officer Municipal Committee Doda Sanjay Kumar told the EXCELSIOR said that they are looking for a suitable land for garbage dumping, but due to some issues, the site could not be finalized yet.
“The dumping of the garbage near the Akramabad area of Ward Number 7 was started around 12 years back in 2008 by the Municipal Committee Doda and at that time, there were few residential houses”, he said, adding that the population has risen thrice of that in 2008.
“Twice a week we put mud on the garbage so that foul smell emission could be stopped”, he said and assured that the garbage dumping site will be shifted within shortest possible time.
However, the residents have warned to launch agitation against the District Administration particularly the Municipal Committee if the garbage dumping site is not shifted from their area to any other location of the district.
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