Hyderabad: Dump yard makes life a hell for colonies

Hyderabad: Jawahar Nagar residents have tried every possible protest to draw the attention of the powers-that-be to the need to shift a dump yard.

In their latest effort, scores of residents came out on street, wearing face masks and holding placards and posters. A collage of postcards would be sent to the government officials, say residents.

An estimated 7,000 metric tonnes of waste generated by the city is transported daily by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). However, the dump yard can process only 5,500 metric tonnes of waste a day.

Residents say the current pandemic has doubled the fear factor. Speaking to The Hans India, Shanti Reddy, a social worker who resides in Dammaiguda said, "Since the lockdown, we have been making sure that we don't go against any of the norms and do these kinds of protests.

However, once the lockdown is lifted, at least more than 3,000 locals will go on a hunger strike."

There are around 160 colonies in the 10-km radius of the dump yard where more than 60,000 locals reside. For the last few months, residents in areas such as Balaji Nagar, Dammaiguda, Kapra, Yapral and Sainikpuri have been shutting their doors and windows each evening, as stench fills the air.

The smell is difficult to describe, but a small whiff is bound to make anyone nauseous.

N Venkata Subba Rao, a resident of Dammaiguda, said, "It smells like death, because that is what it is. This is where Hyderabad's entire garbage comes to rot and die.

And we are the ones suffering for over a decade now. Last month, authorities said that the dump yard had reached its saturation point."

However, officials are yet to act as alternative sites that have been identified remain on paper. "Even if we close our windows, at around 2 am or 3 am, a strong whiff wakes us up from even the deepest slumber.

It is impossible to go back to sleep. We spend many sleepless nights. The condition during the lock down has become even pathetic. We regret now of spending lacks of money to buy houses here," adds Venkata.

Main problems faced by locals

♦    Malodorous smell in their area the whole day

♦    Mosquito menace

♦    Bio degradable waste dumped on roads

♦    Poor quality of air and water

♦    Contaminated ground water

♦    Reverse Osmosis purifiers due to the polluted water

♦    No fresh air to breathe