Yerragunta residents block garbage vehicles over dumping yard issue
Garbage disposal in Paloncha has once again hit a roadblock as Yerragunta residents oppose dumping in their area. Protests have disrupted collection, forcing officials to seek a permanent solution amid health concerns raised by locals
Kothagudem: The issue of garbage disposal at Paloncha in Kothagudem Municipal Corporation has gone back to square one, with residents of Yerragunta opposing the dumping of garbage in the area. Municipal authorities have been facing problems establishing a permanent dumping yard at Paloncha for the past couple of years, as locals have raised concerns over dumping waste near residential areas.
It may be noted that garbage collected daily by municipal tractors and Swachh autos was dumped near Telangana Nagar for several years in the past. However, the site is located next to the main road leading to Dammapet. Residents of Telangana Nagar, Shivanagar, Srinivasa Colony, Ayyappa Nagar and Jayamma Colony lodged complaints, stating that smoke from burning garbage caused health problems.
Later, garbage was dumped at a graveyard in the SC Colony at old Paloncha. However, colony residents protested against turning the graveyard, which is used by several nearby colonies, into a dumping yard. Officials then identified a site at Yerragunta, where garbage had been dumped for the past few months.
However, residents of Yerragunta have also opposed the dumping yard and have been blocking Swachh autos and tractors carrying garbage for the past three days. This has affected garbage collection and disposal.
Speaking to Telangana Today, resident Banoth Sevya complained that the foul smell from heaps of garbage and toxic fumes from burning waste were causing health issues, especially among children and the elderly. The residents demanded that a dumping yard be set up at a location that would not affect habitations and that dumping at Yerragunta be stopped immediately. They said the issue had been brought to the notice of officials and that vehicles would continue to be blocked until the problem was resolved.
Meanwhile, sanitation inspector Ravi Kumar said the garbage was being dumped at the same location earlier identified by the district Collector. The issue was under the scrutiny of higher authorities, he added.