Garbage dumping point a headache for Jhajjar residents

Ravinder Saini

A garbage dumping point set up on a private land adjacent to a colony has become a headache for residents staying nearby in Jhajjar.

“Not a single day passes when we don’t have to face the problem of foul smell emanating from the garbage dumping point set up on a private land adjacent to our colony. The situation becomes more difficult when the wind blows in the direction of our house. Many times, we have to cover our nose with some cloth to minimise the effect. Don’t know when we will get rid of this problem,” says Surendra Singh, a resident of Quilla Colony in Jhajjar city.

He said several complaints have been lodged with the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and municipal authorities asking them to shift the dumping ground away from the residential area, but no one pays heed towards it forcing people to live under unhygienic and unhealthy condition.

Apart from Surendra, other residents of Quilla Colony and its adjoining areas, including Vikas Nagar and Chhawani Mohalla, are also forced to bear the brunt of stink emanating from the dumping site for the past over a decade now.

They said the smell has made their life miserable and they have no other option but to become habitual to staying in this insanitary condition following ‘irresponsible’ attitude of the authorities towards their plight. 

“People enjoy basking in the sun on their rooftops during the winter season and enjoy walking in the evening during summer months to get fresh air. But we go to the rooftop only to dry our clothes as no one can even sit for a while there. We have to cover our faces while crossing the road,” said Manju, a housewife.

She said the situation continues to haunt them for past several years and her family members have approached the municipal authority many times but the officers concerned did nothing except making hollow promises of resolving the issue soon. 

Bala, another housewife, said the dumping point has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and people residing nearby are paying the price for that as they are getting ill due to non-lifting of garbage on a daily basis. Not only garbage, but carcasses of animals and medical waste are also dumped here. Prahlad Singh, an elderly man, said they have to keep their door and windows of the house closed especially in monsoon season to protect themselves from the foul smell emanating from the garbage.

Narendra Saini, secretary, Jhajjar Municipal Committee, said since the committee does not have its own land, a private site has been taken on rent to dump the garbage on the Kosli Road here, but it’s an initial point from where garbage is transported to the main site in Utlauda village on a daily basis.

“Keeping in view the problems being faced by people residing near the dumping point, we have finalised a proposal to shift the dumping point away from the residential area on the bypass road. Hence, a suitable site is being explored to take it on rent for the purpose,” Saini said, claiming that immediate action is taken on complaints lodged by people about the garbage point.