The heap of garbage strewn at the roadside dumping sites on Chamba-old Tehri road has irked the residents who are demanding a trenching ground outside the town. With the advent of the rains the situation has worsened.
The locals have protest on a number of occasions against the illegal dumping of garbage along the road, which has become cause of inconvenience and is posing a health hazard for the public. However, the authorities have turned a blind eye to the problems being faced by the people of Chamba. The residents rued the fact that due to the heaps of garbage strewn along the side of road, traffic jams have also become a common feature of this road.
The residents also said that the garbage being dumped by traders and Nagar Panchayat employees emanates foul smell making the pedestrian movement difficult and has also become the breeding ground for stray dogs. The residents of nearby localities allege that the employees of the Nagar Panchayat collect garbage from the interiors of the town and dump it on the side of the road. “The garbage emanates foul smell and has become a health hazard for the people. It also attracts dogs, cattle, crows and even vultures, which also end up causing accidents at times,” complain the locals. “We are not able to open the doors of our homes and our children are not able to venture into the market freely due to threat of stray dogs and vultures,” said local resident Virendra Ramola.
The locals are demanding the construction of a trenching ground outside the town so that garbage is disposed properly allowing the people to breathe clean air. The Tehri sub divisional magistrate, Abhishek Tripathi when contacted said that a survey was being conducted for a trenching ground and once the survey is complete the garbage will be shifted to the selected site in the near future.