Burning heap of waste creates #NH-24 smoke screen
Ghaziabad: The ban imposed by National Green Tribunal on burning of waste in open is being flouted all over the city with impunity. In yet another instance, a heap of waste has been on fire beside NH-24 in Vaishali for the past two days. Apart from polluting the air, it is also posing risk to commuters on national highway
“For the past two days, smoke is emanating continuously from this spot and you can see for yourself how poor the visibility is. It puts commuters at great risk,” said Prakash Sinha, who uses this route daily. “You cannot stand here for even a minute as you will get a burning sensation in your eyes,” he said.
According to a local resident, dumping of construction waste and plastic is rampant all along NH-24. “It is convenient for residents to dump waste in the night along NH-24 and rag pickers set it on fire,” said Krishna Pal, who stays nearby. “Apart from environmental degradation, it has also gobbled up the pavement space,” he said.
The authorities, meanwhile, shifted the blame on the National Highways Authority of India. “As far as burning of waste along NH-24 is concerned, it is for the NHAI to look into the issue,” said R K Yadav, district health officer, Ghaziabad.
Akash Vashishtha, a city-based environmentalist said: “There have been rampant burning of waste in open which is against the NGT order. We will file a contempt plea in the tribunal soon.”
