Secunderabad: Stench in the air, but GHMC says can’t help

SECUNDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) efforts in capping the garbage at Jawahar Nagar dumping yard seem to have had little impact on the foul smell which has once again made life miserable for residents of Sainikpuri, Kapra, Yapral and nearby areas.
Following complaints by residents, GHMC had initiated measures last month to reduce the stench from the dumping yard. However, residents rue that despite efforts to treat the waste, foul smell has made a comeback within a month.
“The stench has only become worse in the past few days.It gets strong as the day passes and we are forced to keep our doors and windows shut. It is intolerable,” said Bala Krishna, a resident of Netaji Nagar in Sainikpuri.
Residents rue that the stench emanating for the last two-weeks seems like a combination of rotting carcasses, molasses, burning rubber and ammonia that stays for hours until the wind drifts its direction to other localities.
The garbage being dumped at the Jawahar Nagar dumping yard recently crossed the 7,000 metric tonnes mark. Previously, the GHMC used to transport about 5,000 metric tonnes of garbage.
While the GHMC had identified three alternative locations in Medak and Rangareddy district to shift the Jawahar Nagar dump, sources said that locals from neighbouring areas had opposed it. The three locations were identified in – Lakdaram (Patancheru) and Papireddyguda (Keshampet) and Pyaranagar (Dundigal).
“We understand that the Jawahar Nagar dumping yard has reached its saturation point. However, we cannot do anything if collectors and locals do not cooperate,” said a GHMC official on condition of anonymity, adding that the civic body is now exploring some effective solid waste management solutions in order to treat the existing garbage at the dumping yard.