Despite ban, MC burns waste in open

Ravinder Sood

Palampur December 12

Despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order banning the garbage burning, waste in garbage bins can be seen set afire in most parts of the town everyday.

The NGT has ordered all state governments to impose a fine of Rs 25,000 on those who are found violating the order. However, there is no impact of the NGT order on the MC staff in the town where garbage burning has become a routine affair.

The Municipal Committee employees set garbage on fire stored in steel dumpers installed in different parts of the town resulting in widespread air pollution.

Despite repeated requests of residents in this regard, no action has been initiated by the Municipal Council authorities or the local administration to address the problem which has adversely been affecting human health.

The local MC has installed over 12 garbage dumpers in different parts of the town. As per rules, garbage is to be removed daily from these dumpers, but the MC staff is not following the practice and is allowing its employees to set the garbage in dumpers on fire.

Smoke generated by garbage burning leads to various respiratory diseases, particularly among aged persons and children. Jai Kumar, a senior citizen residing near the old Sabzi Mandi, said that garbage dumpers installed on the Palampur-Dharmsala road near old sabzi Mandi, Tiny Tots School and the IPH office, had been emitting smoke due to garbage burning for the past one week, increasing his respiratory ailments. He said he had called up Municipal Committee officials many times, but no steps had been initiated to curb the practice. A pediatrician said there was also an increase in the cases of respiratory problems among children because of the air pollution.

Meanwhile, several local bodies, panchayats and NGOs have asked the Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, to intervene and implement the NGT order to check environment pollution which had become a major health hazard in the town.