GUWAHATI: A garbage transit point located opposite the Regional Dental College in Bhangagarh has come under scrutiny, with residents, workers and commuters raising concerns over foul smell, poor hygiene and improper waste handling in the area.
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The site, situated along one of the city's busiest roads and directly opposite a major healthcare institution, continues to generate complaints from people who pass through the area daily.
While garbage is regularly collected from the transit point, many allege that waste often remains scattered on the road, especially during the rainy season.
Speaking to GPlus, a worker engaged in segregating waste at the transit point said, "I have been working here for quite some time. My body is now habituated to the smell."
Meanwhile, a tea stall owner operating near the site said the issue has persisted for years and significantly affects nearby businesses and pedestrians.
"We have been facing this problem for the last three to four years. The smell is horrible. GMC's primary collectors often dump garbage on the road instead of inside the designated area. During rainfall, the situation becomes even worse and it is difficult for people to walk through this stretch," he told GPlus.
Speaking to GPlus, a worker at the Regional Dental College hostel questioned the appropriateness of maintaining a garbage transit point opposite a hospital, This place is not hygienic at all. The smell is terrible. Having a garbage dumping site right opposite a dental hospital, where patients visit every day, is definitely a wrong decision."
Even healthcare professionals working in the vicinity admit that the problem has become a part of their daily lives. "We are now habituated to these conditions. What can we do about it?" said Shahjaan Ahmed, a resident doctor at the Regional Dental College.
Responding to the concerns, the ward councillor of the area stated that the garbage accumulation is largely due to residents indiscriminately dumping waste at the site.
"Residents throw garbage there, but every morning the waste is cleared. However, people simply do not listen," the councillor told GPlus.
The issue has highlighted the challenge of balancing waste management needs with public health concerns. While authorities maintain that waste is cleared regularly, residents and those working nearby say stricter monitoring, better waste handling practices and greater public awareness are needed to prevent the area from turning into a persistent health and sanitation concern.
With hundreds of patients, students and commuters using the stretch every day, many believe a cleaner and more hygienic solution can no longer be delayed.