Punjab: Locals gasp for air as garbage fires rage in Sahnewal

With garbage heaps on fire, a thick blanket of smoke envelops Sahnewal town almost every day, affecting air quality. The civic body has failed to check the practice of garbage burning, which has become a major contributor to air pollution.

“The council employees either themselves set garbage on fire or ask others to do so on their behalf due to the fear of being caught red-handed. Residents of Sahnewal are passing through the toughest of times as they are regularly exposed to toxic fumes emitting from burning garbage. Rather than disposing the garbage properly in landfills, it is simply dumped in the open and set on fire,” rued a resident of the town.

“Even though it is illegal to burn the garbage, the practice continues unabated. The residents complain that the casual attitude of the council and the lack of enforcement are the reasons behind the regular burning of waste. Garbage is regularly set on fire in different areas in Sahnewal, including the garbage dump opposite to Gurdwara Reru Sahib, Gurdwara Sangatsar Sahib and near Dussehra ground. The residentsare virtually going through hell,” said another resident.

The residents complain that last week, a fire ignited at the garbage dump near the historic Gurdwara Reru Sahib became uncontrollable. These fires have become a common occurrence now,” they complain.

“The state government acts tough with farmers who burn stubble, but on the other hand the burning of garbage, which emits toxic fumes, is yet to draw the attention of the authorities. Open and regular burning of garbage has multiplied the problems for the residents who feel suffocated in such a polluted environment,” the residents said.

The residents added that early in the morning when one comes out of home for a whiff of fresh air, the smoke from the burning garbage is enough to choke the breath. “It become almost impossible to breathe due to the foul smell. The smell emanating from garbage, which was set on fire opposite to Gurdwara Reru Sahib yesterday, was simply intolerable. The devotees who visited the gurdwara early in the morning were gasping for fresh air. They had to literally run towards their homes to save themselves from the poisonous gases,” they expressed.

Executive Officer Vikram Kumar, when contacted, said that rag pickers generally put the garbage on fire. “We shall identify those who set the garbage on fire and impose hefty fine on them,” he added.

Ludhiana