Indian Express 19.08.2009
On visit to Dadumajra, mayor finds garbage on fire
In a late night visit to the Solid Waste Management Plant in Dadumajra, Mayor Kamlesh found that instead of being processed, garbage was being burnt at the site. The mayor was accompanied by a few councillors
The mayor decided to conduct the check after receiving numerous complaints from residents in the vicinity of the plant about a foul smell in their colonies.
With the swine flu scare, the councillors inquired about the smell and were informed that it was due to burning of the garbage — the plant has not been functioning for some time now.
With councillors Pardeep Chhabra, Chander Mukhi Sharma, Resham Chand Jakhu and Congress leader Subhash Chawla, the mayor went to inspect the plant and found that nine furnaces were being used to burn the garbage.
In another visit to the dumping ground earlier in the day, the mayor found that trolleys were dumping unprocessed garbage at the site.
“Burning of dry leaves and garbage is banned in the city. If a sweeper is found burning leaves, strict action is taken against him. And in this case tonnes of garbage is being burnt, but nothing is being done,” Kamlesh said. “Councillors can conduct checks and bring the anomalies to light. It is up to the executive to take action. But this is not being done. Even the pollution control board is turning a blind eye to these violations.”
The plant, which is supposed to process 350 metric tonnes of garbage everyday, has been in trouble since its inception.
The company responsible for operating it says garbage cannot be processed as it has high moisture content. But it was the same garbage for which the company agreed operate the plant and on basis of which the terms and conditions were set.
