Hyderabad:
The residents of Medchal district are facing serious issues due to the Jawahar Nagar dump yard. This dump yard has been polluting the air and groundwater in the area for many years, leading to several cases of water-borne and skin diseases. Frustrated by the lack of action from government officials, local residents have decided to start the “Ekikarana Padayatra” to protest and bring attention to their problems.
The locals are upset because they have been dealing with this pollution for decades. Despite repeatedly asking the government for help and holding protests, no permanent solution has been provided. Last year, the State government suggested creating four new dump yards in areas like Pyarnagar, Khanapur, Dundigal, and Pashamylaram. However, no progress has been made on this plan, leaving the residents to suffer. This led them to take matters into their own hands by organizing the Ekikarana Padayatra, which began in the second week of October.
Sandeep, a resident of the area, explained that the problems caused by the dump yard have spread to nearby places like Rampally and Nagaram. Groundwater in these areas has become unsafe to drink. Although the National Green Tribunal had ordered a stop to new waste being brought to the dump yard, the government has not followed through with this order. As a result, the local water supply has been contaminated, making it unusable.
During the padayatra, the residents plan to meet with local leaders and demand immediate action. One of their main requests is the purification of the polluted water. Since the purified water may not be fully clean, they suggest that the partially treated water should be sent to the Musi River through a pipeline.
Another resident, Srinivas, expressed his frustration, saying that the State government has only been giving them false promises. The people living near the dump yard are dealing with terrible conditions every day, and many are falling sick. Srinivas stressed that it’s time for the government to find a permanent solution to these problems and provide relief to the suffering residents.
