The municipal dumping yard located nearby the 300 Quarters Beedi Workers’ Colony, 80 Quarters Colony, and 50 Quarters Colony at Nagaram under Division No. 36 has turned out to be very hazardous to the health of over 1,500 residents with the yard emanating stench and harmful gases.

Residents complain that they suffer so much with garbage that includes human body parts and foetuses from the government hospital, human excreta that is cleared from private septic tanks, animal carcasses and litter from all the 50 divisions in the city that are dumped here. The quarters are inhabited mainly by beedi workers and others who eke out a living doing menial jobs.

As the quarters are just 100-150 metres from the dump yard, litter is playing havoc with their lives as the area is flooded with unbearable stench whenever the wind blows. To exacerbate, it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and houseflies which also feast on the midday meal served to children studying in the Government School, Khaleelwadi and Government School, Jendagalli causing diseases to children.

According to Siricilla Narsaiah, a resident, at least two persons in each household are suffering from asthma, cough or other respiratory problems after inhaling the toxic air. “We have been living here since 1986 whereas the dumping yard came up in 2012. Then, the authorities said that the garbage would be recycled from time to time and it would not be a problem to us,” he said pointing out that later the authorities expressed helplessness.

Unkept promise

Before the Assembly elections on October 28 and 29 when the residents staged a dharna prompting Municipal Commissioner John Samson and municipal health officer rushing to them and promising to solve the problem within a month. But nothing happened though two months have passed, Mr. Narsaiah deplored.

Everyday garbage collected in the city is carried in about 40 tractors, 10 LCVs and two trucks. They travel right through the 50 quarters and 80 quarters colonies and unload in the yard abutting the 300 Quarters. Plastic covers get strewn all over the colonies, said G. Gangadhar, another resident.

On hunger strike

The exasperated residents have launched a relay hunger strike on January 2 and are sitting in day and night at the main chowrasta demanding the yard’s immediate removal. Young and old including women are also participating in the protest.

Mayor Akula Sujatha Srisailam said that the issue is in the notice of the government and the district Collector is seized of the matter. Former BJP MLA Yendala Laxminarayana earlier brought the issue to the notice of the Director, Town Planning.