Even as the relay hunger strike of residents of 300 Quarters Beedi Workers’ Colony and 80 and 50 Quarters’ weaker sections colonies of Nagaram under Division No. 36 in the municipal corporation limits entered the 13th day on Monday for the shifting of dumping yard, there is no response from the officials concerned and district administration.
While the municipal authorities expressed their inability to take a decision saying that the ball is in the court of the revenue department, the latter remains indecisive. On the other hand, about 2,000 residents are resolving to continue the agitation till the yard, a health hazard, is shifted.
Men and women including children have been spending day and night at the relay hunger strike camp. Men are on the strike during night while women are protesting in the day. Women are spending their time rolling beedies and doing other jobs.
“We are spending time here at the camp since the day when we have launched the agitation on January 1. We are cooking food and having it at the camp. Children and the elderly are falling sick and suffering from respiratory problems as the dump yard is spreading stench. It is a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” said Duddeda Swaroopa, resident of 300 Quarters Colony.
These colonies are located hardly 150 metres from the dumping yard. The Government High School, Khaleelwadi and Government Primary School, Jendagalli are also close to these colonies. With mosquitoes and houseflies landing on the food being served during afternoon, the school children are prone to diseases, says Siricilla Narsaiah, leader of the agitation committee.
The agitation has become a problem for authorities as the residents are preventing the vehicles coming with garbage. It is not known where the garbage is being dumped in the wake of the agitation, said Y. Gangadhar, another leader.
Collector M. Ram Mohan Rao told The Hindu that it would not be possible to identify and allot 50 acre land immediately to shift the dumping yard. “I have asked the Municipal Commissioner and RDO to explore alternative route for transporting garbage and construct a compound wall around the yard. I have also suggested them to appoint an environment engineer for the garbage recycling process,” he said.
Local MIM Corporator Siraj is under criticism for not visiting the camp to enquire about their difficulties.
