The city dwellers are a worried lot as the monsoon season nears.
In the absence of an effective waste management system, people are dumping the garbage on roads and in the drains. The clogged drains pose a serious threat to public health.
No alternative
Heaps of garbage are seen everywhere in the city. Though the city corporation stopped the dumping of waste at Lalur dump yard following the protest of the local residents a few years ago, it has done little so far to find an alternative solution to address the garbage issue. Stray dogs and cattle feasting on heaps of garbage is a common sight.
Though the corporation made a move for source management of waste by distributing pipe compost units to households, it was not a success as expected. Most of the people still dump waste wrapped in plastic carry bags on roads at night.
Alert issued
City residents fear that heavy rain may cause spread of many diseases if the clogged drains are not cleaned.
The Health Department has already issued an alert against spread of monsoon diseases.
Though waste dumping was stopped at Lalur, the piles of garbage still pose serious health hazard for the residents.
Most of the wells in the vicinity are polluted due to the seepage from the waste piles.
The city corporation’s Lalur Model Project for Solid Waste Management is still a non-starter despite an allocation of Rs. 9.5 crore for the project.
The corporation has now started removing the garbage from M.O. Road, where the corporation office is situated, following a sit-in of the opposition councillors.
