Chamba township in Tehri district is fast losing its social, cultural and historic identity over time owing to myriad reasons. However, the most glaring of all the problems plaguing the region is the dearth of a right trenching ground in the right place. The garbage dump on Dharasu Road along National Highway, where most of the solid waste from the town is disposed of, has the potential to turn a serious health hazard as it can become the source of a number of communicable diseases. Besides, for the tourists coming in their hordes all the year round, nothing has been provided by way of facilities.
People have been demanding removal of the dumping ground from there for years now, but to no avail. During rainy season, things turn the worst with the decomposing mass of the garbage thus dumped fills the air of the area with an intolerable stench. Moreover, the garbage pile-ups attract hordes of monkeys, who have become a serious menace for the people residing nearby.
Already, cases of conjunctivitis and other diseases are on the rise in the area. The dumping ground being located along National Highway, people from other places are also being affected. Hundreds of school children who commute through the stretch are highly vulnerable. Owing the poor quality of waste management in the town, garbage has become on overwhelming presence everywhere. There are piles of garbage to be found at various sites along Rishikesh and Mussoorie Road too.
Interestingly, Chamba is being sought to be developed as a tourist destination. The indiscriminate dumping of garbage along the National Highway has also increased chances of landslides. Social activists Darshan lal, Sanjay Maithani and many others have warned that they would launch a full-blown stir if the problem remains unresolved. Asked to comment on the mounting resentment of the people on this count, the executive officer, Nagar Panchayat, Sanjay Kumar said that land has been demanded from forest department for a trenching ground.