JORHAT, Dec 1 - The Jorhat district regional unit of AASU has urged the district administration to immediately stop dumping and burning of garbage by the Jorhat Municipal Board at the ground adjacent to the Garamur Cremation Ground here in view of severe health hazards reportedly faced by the people residing in the surrounding areas.
In a memorandum submitted to the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner N Konwar on Friday, the students� body stated that daily dumping of garbage at the open area next to the cremation ground and burning the same since a long time back was causing largescale pollution in the surrounding areas.
It stated that people of nearby areas were suffering from serious health problems like difficulty in breathing and various kinds of lung and heart ailments.
The memorandum urged the Deputy Commissioner to intervene in the matter and order a complete stop to dumping and burning of garbage at the site at the earliest and instruct the Jorhat Municipal Board to undertake a scientific waste disposal management project and provide relief to the residents of the Garamur area, which has a sizeable population.
AASU adviser of the Jorhat regional unit, who is also the assistant general secretary of the Jorhat district unit of the students� body, Bijay Shankar Bordoloi, told this newspaper that after dumping garbage at the said ground, it is burnt, which creates billowing of huge thick smoke and thus pollutes the atmosphere.
Bordoloi said that the local people of Garamur area have since a long time back been urging the JMB authorities to stop dumping garbage in the said ground and had repeatedly sought the intervention of the district administration in this regard, but their pleas have till date fallen on deaf ears.
Along with the local people, several organisations too have undertaken numerous protest programmes at the site, at the JMB office and also in front of the Jorhat Deputy Commissioner�s office and also blocked the Garamur road, but have only elicited assurances, with garbage dumping continuing unabated, the AASU leader alleged.
He said that burning of garbage only a few days back had caused swirling clouds of smoke enveloping the entire area and causing immense difficulties to the nearby residents.
The Rajabari unit of AJYCP too has demanded a stop to dumping of garbage at the site. The organisation too has urged the district administration to intervene in the matter.
When contacted, JMB Chairman Jayanta Borkakoty told The Assam Tribune that they were seriously taking note of the problem and have accordingly initiated a Rs 15-crore project for solid waste management as a long-term solution to overcome the problem.
He said that a plant for the purpose will be set up at the plot adjacent to the present dumping ground under which there will be two components � recycling waste and bio composting.
The JMB Chairman said that the tendering process for the same has been initiated and work will start soon. He said that a makeshift bazaar presently functioning near the cremation ground will be shifted to a newly-constructed market at a nearby area to make way for the plant.
Borkakoty said as a short-term solution for the problem, the JMB will discuss the matter with the district administration, experts and also citizens of Jorhat. He informed that very soon he will organise a citizens� meet to discuss a stop to dumping of garbage at the current site and find an acceptable alternative.
