PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Doon residents are bearing the brunt of an ongoing dispute over operations at the Kargi mechanised transfer station, with large quantities of garbage piling up at Dharampur Mandi and along nearby roads on Monday. The situation was reportedly linked to limited processing capacity at the transfer station, where only one garbage-processing machine was operational. With municipal vehicles unable to clear the backlog, waste remained dumped at several locations, including the busy mandi area. A large quantity of wet waste was seen lying along the roadside, creating unhygienic conditions for shopkeepers, vendors, shoppers and commuters. Rain further worsened the situation by making the waste wet and intensifying the foul smell.
Shopkeeper Manoj Kumar said that the garbage had been lying near the market since morning. “There has been a strong foul smell since morning. With so much waste lying here, it has become difficult to even stand here. The rain has made the garbage wet and the smell has become even worse,” he said. Another shopkeeper Aman Ahmed said that the waste was affecting businesses in the area. “Customers see the garbage and leave without entering the shop. I have only attended three customers since this morning because of this,” he said.
The pile-up has raised concerns over the city’s dependence on the Kargi facility for waste processing, with disruptions there quickly affecting garbage collection across Dehradun. The chief municipal health officer Anand Shukla said that the disruption at Kargi had affected the city’s waste management chain.“The problem at Kargi has impacted the entire waste management chain. We are trying to address the issue and are working to resolve it as soon as possible,” he said.
Ahmeed said that the civic body should restore regular garbage lifting and prevent waste from remaining on roadsides, particularly during the monsoon when accumulated wet waste can create additional sanitation concerns.
