Dumping of civic ‘processed’ waste in open areas continues unabated

The controversy over the dumping of ‘processed’ civic waste in the open and land filling sites in the city and the district by the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) continues to rage further. The authorities are yet to get the report of the samples sent for laboratory test after allegation were raised of the toxic nature of the waste.

The issue had surfaced in the wake of complaints lodged with the civic body asking it to stop the dumping of waste in residential areas. The authorities agreed for a laboratory test as it was claimed that it was polluting in nature. The test report has not been revealed despite even though two and half months have passed, reveal sources in the local administration. It is claimed that the laboratory which had been given the samples in July this year, has declined to conduct the tests perhaps due to non-clearance of a pending payment. While the process of clearing the waste at the Bandhwari site is on, several thousand tonnes of waste is yet to be removed. The NGT had ordered the clearance of the waste from here about two years ago.

‘’The issue of sample test seems to be dumped as the report could expose the false claims of the civic body officials that it was not toxic in nature ,’’ alleges Jitender Bhadana of the Save Aravali, an NGO, and one of those who had opposed the dumping and had lodged a complaint with the authorities. “The waste containing plastic and other toxic substances had been dumped in several localities including Sainik Colony, Dabua Colony, Pali village, Bhankri village and the forest area,” he says.

He said the waste was being crushed or grounded to give it a look of compost but was still toxic in nature. “Though a committee appointed by the MCF lifted the samples for testing, the delay in the report is baffling and self-explanatory,” says Bhadana.

70 per cent of the city waste was still dumped at Bandhwari and the process of clearing the waste is not likely to be over soon, it is claimed. Though two waste processing plants have been made operational at Mujeri and Pratapgarh villages, the treatment capacity is poor, it is reported.

“The dumped waste has been processed once, it is compost and not inert in nature as alleged. The test report of the samples is likely to be received soon” Surender Khattar, SDO, MCF, said

Surender Khattar, SDO, MCF, said while the dumped waste was processed once, he said it was compost and not inert in nature as alleged. He said the test report of the samples lifted is likely to be received soon.

Lab reports of samples awaited

• The authorities are yet to get the report of the samples sent for laboratory test after allegation of the toxic nature of the waste
• The laboratory which had been given the samples in July has declined to conduct the tests perhaps due to non-clearance of a pending payment

Waste non-toxic: MC

The dumped waste has been processed once, it is compost, non-toxic and not inert (which cannot be decomposed) in nature. The test report of the samples is likely to be received soon. — Surender Khattar, SDO, MCF

The issue of sample test seems to be dumped as the report could expose the false claims of the civic body officials that it was not toxic in nature. — Jitender Bhadana, Save Aravali, an NGO