Waste norms not observed at Bhalswa landfill site

Prateek Chauhan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 29

There is always a fire at Bhalswa landfill site and the garbage is being dumped there even today. The irony is that for the disposal of waste, the norms set by the Central Environment Ministry are not being followed even after a disaster has happened.

People, especially children, living in the nearby area of the site are becoming victims of life-threatening diseases like cancer.

Due to the negligence of the government agencies, people have raised the demand of closing the landfill site many times, organised agitations and the matter was raised in Parliament as well, but the outcome was zero.

Now the NGT once again has given directions  to the Chief Secretary of Delhi Government, but seeing the earlier experiences, the environmentalists are worried that this order like earlier ones might not be  dumped in the heap of waste.

People in the area have been demanding a free medical treatment. There are 200 families which pick the waste and earn their livelihood. They have been clamouring for jobs.