UP: As night falls, mounds of waste are set on fire at Dadri sabzi mandi

GREATER NOIDA: While the air quality has reached toxic levels, there is no end to the burning of waste in the open. Piles of waste are set on fire near Naveen Sabzi Mandi in Dadri every night, residents of nearby areas alleged. They claimed to have complained to the pollution department, but no action has been taken yet.
“The situation has become worse in the past few weeks. I have informed the regional officer of the pollution department through IGRS but no action has been taken. I don’t know what sort of mixed garbage is being dumped here openly but it is still harmful to us,” said Pradeep Kumar, a resident of Greater Noida. The vegetable sellers in the area who work till late said the continuous garbage burning has made it difficult for them to work.
“I saw the waste being burnt here. My son used to accompany me to the mandi to help me, but now I have restricted him from coming with me due to the daily degrading air quality. However, I have to come here since I have a family to feed,” said Ramesh Yadav, a vegetable seller.
Due to the AQI, the number of grocery shoppers has reduced in the past few days. When TOI contacted the pollution department officials, they said, “We will inspect the area on Monday and will do the needful.”
Visitors claimed such assurances are given every year. “But nothing concrete is done. Mostly, it is not possible to catch the culprit. This area requires dumping bins so that people don’t throw garbage on open plots and burn it,” suggested Kapil Sharma, a frequent visitor to this mandi.