Angul: After facing stiff opposition from locals, the Angul municipality had to stop dumping garbage at Kushasingha Saturday. The construction work on the boundary wall of the dump yard has also been halted.
When the garbage trucks approached the proposed dump yard, nearby villagers forced the vehicles to retreat saying, “Forceful activities of the municipality would not be tolerated any further.” They demanded a discussion with the administration, and only after the talks, the fate of municipal activities will be ascertained.
Like any other day, the municipal administration sent its vehicles to the dump yard at Kushasingha, with police escort. But they were not allowed to enter the village as hundreds of women, men and children squatted on the road, opposing the move.
The situation turned so tense that Angul IIC Ramesh Chandra Bisoi reached the spot with backup force. Municipality executive officer Subhendu Jena, chief engineer Seemanchal Mishra and other officials followed them.
Despite police and civic body officials’ bid to get around the villagers, the protesters stuck to their guns opposing garbage dumping and construction of the dump yard.
The villagers complain that the proposed dump yard is so near to their village that locals would become vulnerable to numerous illnesses once it goes operational.
Seeing stiff protest from the villagers, the police and municipality officials had no other way but to direct the garbage-full tractors to go back. They also stalled the construction work. The civic body officials held discussions with the villagers, but the talks remained inconclusive.
When asked about their future course of action, the municipality officials said, “We will hold another round of discussion with the villagers.”
PNN