Jhuriwala dump: Over 400 families give boycott threat

Residents of trans-Ghaggar sectors in Panchkula have decided to boycott the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections, demanding removal of garbage from the Jhuriwala dumping site and earmarking another site for the dumping garbage.

Members of the Sangram Jhuriwala Dumping Ground Committee said over 400 families, which were part of the committee, took the collective decision.

After holding a meeting with the locals, the municipal corporation has also started exploring the idea of setting up material recovery facility (MRF) centres across the city to decentralise the Jhuriwala dumping ground and set up new centres in different wards.

Residents said they had decided to boycott the poll as their most important concern was not resolved.

Advocate Nitesh Mittal, a resident of Sector 25, said, “The Panchkula MC has failed to resolve our long-standing concern regarding the Jhuriwala dump. It continues to bring the whole city’s garbage to this site, while foul smell emanating from the waste makes our life miserable. We have written to the corporation, held numerous meetings and even protested outside its office, but to no avail.”

Mittal said over 400 families were associated with the committee formed to get the garbage dump cleared. “All these families have decided to boycott the elections as the state government has failed to resolve our issue,” he added.

Another resident Mohit Gupta acknowledged the civic body’s efforts, but stressed the need for time-bound solutions. “It is not that the MC is not doing anything. They are fencing the dumping site and clearing stagnant water. However, we want timely action in regard to the waste collection process as it poses several health hazards to the residents,” added Gupta.

Committee members said they held a meeting with MC officials on the matter yesterday as well. Officials, including MC Commissioner Sachin Gupta, Joint Commissioner Simranjeet Kaur, CSI Avinash Singla and XEN Harish, attended the meeting. The officials proposed to set up MRF centres in all 20 wards and decentralise the Jhuriwala dumping ground.

The affected residents have asserted that they would file an application with the National Green Tribunal for appropriate action and penalty against officials if the civic body failed to resolve the issue.