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Chandigarh: Life next to landfill in Ward 26 a constant nightmare
No end to residents’ battle against diseases and stench due to the piling waste at the Dadumajra dumping ground in ward number 26 of Chandigarh
Living right next to the Dadumajra landfill, residents of Ward Number 26 remain in anticipation of a solution to their miseries.
The horrid stench is the least of residents’ troubles, as the dumping site has also exposed them to a plethora of health hazards, including allergies, asthma and skin ailments.
Spread across 45.11 acres, the landfill is located right in the middle of the ward, which comprises Dadumajra Colony and village, Shahpur Colony and village, and Rehabilitation Colony, Sector 38 (W).
Amid rising temperatures in the summer, fires are also commonplace at the site, leaving locals struggling with respiratory problems. Leachate leakage, every time it rains, pollutes the groundwater resources.
City’s daily waste of around 450 metric tonnes (MT) is directed to this site every day, but less than 50 MT is processed at the nearby Solid Waste Processing Plant, leaving most of it rotting in the open.
“For over 20 years now, the residents of Dadumajra Colony have been protesting for clearance of the dumping site, but the political representatives and MC officials have turned a blind eye to the matter. While a boundary wall has been erected around the landfill, little has been done to clear the towering legacy waste,” said Dyal Krishan, president, Dumping Ground Site Joint Action Committee.
“Those living in the vicinity of the landfill are running out of resources to fund their healthcare bills. Apart from ailing health, residents even battle the stench through day and night,” he added.
Absence of basic facilities and infrastructure in the ward makes matters worse. “Even though our village comes under MC’s purview, not a single park has been provided. No development work has been carried out to improve the villagers’ lives. Roads need immediate carpeting. Poor sanitation is also a cause of concern,” said Jasbir Singh, a resident of Dadumajra village.
Though the residents of Rehabilitation Colony, Sector 38 (West) have access to clean drinking water and sewerage system, they say parks, roads and street lights require maintenance.
Rinku Sharma, a local, said, “The councillor remains unapproachable, even though the infrastructure is crumbling. Roads need carpeting and parks need maintenance. A councillor must fulfil people’s demands.”
KNOW YOUR WARD
Localities: Dadumajra Colony and village, Shahpur Colony and village, and Rehabilitation Colony, Sector 38 (West)
Reserved for SC candidate
Voters: 28,000
KEY ISSUES
Dumping ground in the middle of residential area
Poor sanitation and garbage piles along the roads
Ill-maintained roads, parks and public toilets
LOCAL VOICES
Residents are forced to live in dirty conditions due to the garbage dump. It needs to be shifted.
Dyal Krishan, president, Dumping Ground Site Joint Action Committee
Our village has no park despite being under MC’s ambit. Roads remain riddled with potholes. Sanitation also remains ignored.
Jasbir Singh, resident of Dadumajra village
The ward is devoid of even basic facilities, like proper roads and parks. Sanitation suffers due to inadequate number of sweepers for the large area.
Ravinder Kumar Bansal, resident of Dadumajra Colony
Water gets accumulated at various points in our area, leading to outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases. The inside lanes need carpeting.
Dinesh Kumar, resident of Shahpur Colony
