GUWAHATI: A stretch of the Dakshingaon main road in Kahilipara, opposite Mulagabharu Path, has effectively turned into an unauthorised dumping ground, with residents complaining of persistent hygiene problems, foul odour and civic neglect in the locality.
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According to locals, the garbage is dumped right next to a public toilet in the area, compounding the sanitation crisis and making the stretch increasingly unusable for pedestrians and nearby residents.
Residents allege that Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) garbage trucks unload waste at the spot twice a day, every morning and night turning what should be a temporary transit point into a permanent dumping site.
The problem, residents say, is not new. One local resident told GPlus that he had raised the matter with the GMC roughly a year ago. At the time, he said, civic officials assured him that the dumping was a temporary measure and would be discontinued shortly. However, more than a year later, the practice continues unabated, with no sign of a permanent solution or relocation of the dumping activity.
"We were told this was temporary, just for a few days. It has now been over a year, and the trucks still come every morning and night," the resident said.
Residents in the area say the continued dumping has led to a range of problems, from the spread of foul smell and unhygienic conditions to concerns about disease and pest infestation, given the proximity to a public toilet. Many local residents say they now avoid the stretch altogether, particularly during the evening hours when garbage trucks are known to unload waste.
While talking to GPlus the GMC ward councillor stated that the location was initially a temporary transit point for garbage but due to unavailability of proper sites to dump or dispose waste, this location is still in use.
“We have asked for suggestions regarding a new site” The councillor said while explaining that the GMC is continuously seeking for a new location site where garbage can be safely dumped and disposed of. She added that once a proper location will be found, the roadside won't be used.
Locals have urged the GMC to identify a proper, sanctioned site for waste disposal and to immediately halt dumping at the Dakshingaon stretch, which they say was never meant to be a long-term dumping ground.