VARANASI: Varanasi Municipal Corporation has found yet another way to pollute the city air. The cleaning staff of VMC has started burning garbage to get rid of the solid waste generation. The burning of garbage in the regional collection centres (RCCs) is not only producing harmful gases, but is also causing endless trouble to locals.

The burning of garbage was visible at RCC at Maldahiya and near river Varuna at Nakkhighat on Tuesday. According to Ram Dulari, a native of Nakkhighat, the cleaning staff burn the garbage to ward off the foul smell emitted from it.

The staff little realizes that this practice may lead to severe health hazard. Even road swept garbage is burnt in several areas including Lanka, Nagwa, Gurubagh, Luxa, Pandeypur and Pahadiya areas.

According to regional officer, UP Pollution Control Board, SB Singh, burning of garbage is dangerous to both health and environment. The city is already suffering from high levels of RSPM in air which at present is over 200 units against the standard level of 60 mirco gram per cubic metres. The present level of SPM in air is close to 400 units against the standard level of 100 micro gram per cubic metres.