At least 50,000 people from several areas of the district , who use the Panchagarh-Haribhasha and Panchagarh-Tunirhat roads for going to their destination daily, have to suffer badly for the disgusting odour coming from an unplanned waste-dumping station at Jwalasi area in town.
According to sources, the people of Haribhasha, Chaklahat, Kamat Kajol Dighi, Omarkhana, Hafizabad and Kaliganj, in Sadar upazila, use the roads every day for their travel to and from the district town.
They are compelled to move through the roads by covering their noses and faces, in order to get rid of the bad odour.
Locals alleged that the municipality authorities have not yet taken any step to relocate it, even after being informed about it repeatedly.
Locals allege that the environment of the locality is also severely polluted as, in addition to the garbage, carcasses of various animals, including cows and goats, are also being dumped into the waste depot.
They said Panchagarh municipality established the dumping station by acquiring a one-acre pond.
Wastes are being dumped into the pond for several years, and the pond has currently become filled with wastes, the locals said. They also alleged that the municipality has now started dumping the wastes on the road.
There are educational institutions, an amusement park, many business houses and industrial enterprises near the dumping station. Several thousand students have to endure sickening odour being emitted from it every day.
Thousands of people are facing health hazards due to the pollution, and many have even fallen sick. Many were seen vomiting on the road due to the intolerable odour.
Manik Khan, a betel-leaf trader of Haribhasha union, said he comes to the district town almost every day for business purpose. “However, I have to endure the bad odour coming out from the waste depot.”
Abu Taher of Tunirjhat said he has to come to the town every day due to his job. “I feel nauseous while passing by the dumping station.”
Shah Alam Sarker, a teacher of Chaklahat KP High School, said he fell sick one day failing to bear the bad odour.
Sourav, a student, said the waste depot must be managed through a modern environment-friendly system, or else everyone would be affected by pollution.
Panel Mayor of Panchagarh municipality Ashraful Alam said about 3 acres of land have been acquired at Jwalasi to set up an environment-friendly waste depot.
“The Tender for the construction of the waste-dumping station has already been floated. Work will begin soon. Once it’s constructed, there’ll be no problem, " he added.
