Published :
Updated :
For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
Haphazard waste dumping hither and thither is obliterating the identity of a 'clean city' from Rajshahi and that being so the name 'garbage-strewn' city is now replacing there.
The main roads of the city are mostly littered with garbage narrowing down the space for vehicular and pedestrian movement.
Passengers and pedestrians have to endure the stench for a long time as the vehicles move slowly.
Consequently, the townspeople are forced to pass life amid an unwholesome and unhealthy environment.
Visiting Rajshahi city on Saturday, this correspondent found that cleaners of the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) were dumping garbage randomly on different streets scattering litters in different directions.
At least half of the main road has been closed due to the garbage dumped disorderly in at least 15 places including Kadirganj-Newmarket Road, TB Pukur intersection, City Bypass intersection and Padmapar Road in Sheikhpara area.
According to the RCC, garbage collected from different houses is brought and stored with the piles of waste kept beside the roads.
About 350 tonnes of waste is collected from the city every day. A total of 28 secondary transfer stations (STSs) are required in the city to accommodate the waste but there are only 18.
Although STS was supposed to be held in Court Bazar area of ward No. 2 of the city, locals are suffering due to its non-existence.
Mahabul Islam, a resident of Baharampur area of the city, said, garbage from different areas starts to be dumped in these places after noon. Shortly afterwards, litters start scattering in and around the roads.
Garbage has been left scattered on the roads for several days in a row.
Imran Ali, a resident of the city's Court Area, said, "Cleanliness is the responsibility of the city corporation. But they are throwing garbage in different areas. It stinks in the city. I feel nauseous when I come here."
Tanmoy Sannyal, Rajshahi coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), said, 'There are incidents of garbage being dumped haphazardly everywhere, including the court station of the city. It is necessary to monitor whether the cleaning workers of the city are working properly or not. Apart from this, those who are currently in charge of RCC's administration, must resolve it quickly."
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner and RCC Administrator Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir said, "We have all the money and space for construction of the STSs. But the process is withheld because some people from the court station area filed a case.
It has not been settled yet. But a lawyer will be appointed soon. It will be possible to settle the matter in one hearing this month."
He also said that if necessary, instructions will be given to remove garbage twice a day.