Staff Reporter
ITANAGAR, Feb 16: The Arunachal Pradesh Swachh Abhiyan Sangh (APSAS) has served a one-month ultimatum to the State Government to permanently resolve the garbage dumping issue in the Itanagar Capital Region by relocating the dumping ground at Chimpu.
Speaking to reporters at the Arunachal Press Club, APSAS general secretary Tatung Taje said the existing dumping site at Chimpu is causing serious health and environmental hazards due to alleged improper waste management.
He informed that the organisation has submitted a formal complaint to the Urban Development Department, highlighting concerns that residents living near the dumping ground and adjacent cremation/burial site are being exposed to hazardous waste due to alleged violations of prescribed health and safety norms.
APSAS claimed that despite repeated appeals for shifting the dumping ground and relocating the burial site, no concrete action has been taken by the authorities concerned.
The organisation further stated that around 30,000 sq mtrs of land had reportedly been earmarked for urban solid waste management for a period of 25 years, with substantial funds allocated for the project. However, it alleged that the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) continues to dump garbage at the existing site and along roadsides.
Terming the practice a violation of Standard Operating Procedures for urban waste disposal, APSAS warned that it poses serious threats to public health, sanitation and environmental safety.
The organisation demanded that the government relocate the dumping site to the notified area within 30 days, failing which it may resort to democratic forms of protest to safeguard the interests of local residents.