Growing stench of negligence in KT Nagar: Burning issue of roadside garbage dumping

 

 

 What was once a clean transit route for daily commuters and a quiet neighborhood for residents has transformed into a festering civic nightmare. The rampant dumping of domestic and commercial waste along city roadsides has escalated from a mere aesthetic nuisance into a severe public health and safety hazard. For months, commuters have voiced growing frustration over the unbearable stench that greets them the moment they enter affected stretch near Omshanti Road, Friends Colony.

 

“It’s not just about the eyesore anymore; the smell is nauseating,” says a daily commuter who passes through the area. “You have to roll up your windows or cover your face just to get past.” However, the burden is heaviest for the nearby residents. Despite repeated pleas and signs urging people not to discard their waste, many individuals lacking basic civic responsibility continue to treat the roadside as an unofficial landfill. Local homeowners report that even after the municipal corporation clears a spot, fresh bags of refuse appear within hours. This persistent defiance has turned a manageable waste collection issue into a deep-rooted civic crisis.

 

“Citizens must understand their civic responsibilities. Everyday people dump garbage in an roadside open area where a lot of people commute daily. They have to cross it as an obstacle in their way” a resident of the nearby society expressed his concerns about the civic responsibility. The severity of this issue reached a dangerous peak at the night on December 19. In an incident that shocked the neighborhood, a fire was ignited on one of the garbage heaps. Fueled by dry plastic and waste material, the blaze spread rapidly, releasing plumes of toxic smoke into air. The situation grew so intense that residents were forced to call the Fire Brigade. Firefighters arrived quickly and managed to bring the flames under control before they could reach adjacent properties, but the close call has left the community shaken. “If the fire brigade hadn’t arrived in time, the fire could have easily spread to the trees near our compound,” noted a concerned resident.

 

This fire serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of neglecting civic duties. While citizens often blame the municipal authorities for lack of frequent collection, the root cause remains the individual decision to dump waste in public spaces. The lack of accountability among residents and passersby is creating a ticking time bomb of disease and fire hazards. To resolve this, city requires a two-pronged approach: stricter surveillance and penalties by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and a fundamental shift in the public's mindset. Cleanliness is not just the government's job; it is a shared responsibility. Until people realise that the roadside is not a trash bin, the city remains at risk of more stenches, more sickness and more fires.