Jawaharnagar residents oppose City dumpyard

The City’s dumpyard at Jawaharnagar is facing stiff opposition from concerned residents. People are up in arms against the presence of the dumpyard, arguing about the ill effects caused by the presence of the dumpyard in their locality. The agitated citizens of the village have decided to pressurise the government into relocating the dumpyard from their neighbourhood.

Anasuya, a vendor and resident at a housing colony adjoining the dumpyard said, “How are we supposed to live with the stench and smoke coming from that place? People have developed breathing problems because of the smog coming from that place. This is no safe place for pregnant women or babies. Most of the residents have left this place not being able to bear the smells that come from the dumpyard.”

A short walk through the housing colony shows many boarded up windows and empty flats in The housing colony was built as part of a national housing scheme for the poor. It is evident that they have been cheated of their promise.

Shantha Bai, another resident complains, “The garbage yard flushes rainwater this side with all sorts of filth in it. We have to wade through that water and bear that smell. The mornings here are especially scary, the smog is so thick that people do not come out until it clears away.”

Despite umpteen number of complaints and representations, these people say that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

In a recent public meeting with the officials from the GHMC, the residents were harsh and bitter in their tirade against the government’s apathy.

Narsimha Goud, the Sarpanch of the village said, “The government had been sleeping for the past 10 years when garbage was being consistently dumped here from the posh areas of Jubilee Hills and Madhapur. Why is it that these people can’t deal with their own garbage and instead bring it here for us to suffer with? The GHMC had never listened to our complaints and even now with diseases and death tolls rising, there has been no change in their attitude. The dumpyard will have to go.”

Environmentalists from Save the Lakes Society and Forum for a Better Hyderabad, point out to the graves of lakes and water bodies that had once been drinking water sources for the village. The groundwater table in the village has been flushed with toxic waste and refuse and now the people have to buy water from private tankers. There is no scope for agriculture as a livelihood as even the most basic amenities like water supply, and clean air are polluted here.

It is only a matter of time before we begin to block the entry of the garbage trucks into the village and let the City face its stench, people in the village say.

Tags: dumpyard, featured, full-image, Jawaharnagar, opposition, residents

Category: City, City News