Protesting movement of civic waste vehicles in Faridabad colonies, residents set up barricades

The manner of disposal of civic waste has led to severe resentment among residents of some of the sectors and colonies here. The residents have set up barricades to prevent the movement of the trucks carrying waste through their colonies.

This is second such protest that has come in the district over the issue of disposal of solid waste this year.

Nal Raj, a resident of Sector 56 here, said a joint committee formed by the residents of the area, including Sectors 56 and 56-A, and Rajiv Colony, Krishna Enclave, Krishna Colony and Samaypur, have setup a permanent barricade on the main road passing through these colonies in order to prevent the movement of vehicles carrying civic waste to the main dumping station located near Pratapgarh village.

He said while the residents had been opposed to setting up a waste processing station in the region, the movement of waste carrying trucks had emerged as a menace as these vehicles had been spilling the waste in the areas from where these had been passing.

He said though the matter had been raised with the civic authorities, the failure to get any relief had made the residents stage a demonstration when they recently stopped and turned away many trucks that had been passing these colonies.

“This activity has not only resulted in filthy civic conditions, but also in pollution of all types as the authorities had failed to ensure transportation of waste in a safe manner,” says Sandeep, a local.

Alleging that the waste processing plant set up at Pratapgarh had emerged as a source of pollution, he said movement of heavy vehicles had also been posing a risk of accidents due to rash driving.

Meanwhile, the stir launched against the proposal of setting up a waste to charcoal plant at Mothuka village in the district last month has entered the fifth week with no breakthrough to resolve the issue so far.

Mohan Bansal, Sarpanch of Mothuka village, said the sit- in (dharna) to seek suspension or shifting the proposed project elsewhere had been on with the participation of residents of many villages.

He said the protest would continue till the demand got accepted.

An MoU had been signed between NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVNL), a wholly owned subsidiary of NTPC Limited, and the Municipal Corporations of Faridabad and Gurugram on July 21 this year for the setting up of the plant costing around Rs 500 crore.

Padam Bhushan, Executive Engineer, Municipal Corporation, Faridabad (MCF), said while residents of some colonies had protested over the movement of waste carrying vehicles in the area, the work of disposal and processing of waste had been ongoing at Pratapgarh village site.

He said the issue of setting up the waste to the charcoal plant at Mothuka village was under

consideration of the state government.