Congress flays GMC over Chandrapur dumping ground issue

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Congress on Thursday criticized the move to shift the waste dumping ground from Boragaon (in West Gauhati LAC) to Chandrapur (in Dispur LAC).

Mentionably, the GMC (Gauhati Municipal Corporation) has been dumping wastes from various parts of the city at the site of the thermal power project in Chandrapur. The shifting of the dumping ground to Chandrapur by GMC gained momentum after a Court order to shift dumping of wastes at Boragaon which is quite close to the globally known avian resort Ramsar Site and wetland as per the Ramsar Convention.

Deepor Beel is a permanent freshwater lake located to the south-west of Guwahati city, in Kamrup district of Assam. Lying in a former channel of the Brahmaputra river, it lies to the south of the main river channel.

Mentionably the continuous daily public protests have been carried under the banner of the DGBMC (Dumping Ground Birodhi Mancha, Chandrapur) since June 26, 2021.

Taking part in the 'Satyagraha' on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition and also CLP (Congress Legislature Party) leader Debabrata Saikia said, "The authorities concerned have not followed any of the established rules in shifting the dumping ground to Chandrapur. It is quite sad that the people of the area are carrying on their stir against the move of the GMC for the last 27 days. But, no one from the authorities has visited the site of agitation till date to have discussions with the agitators on the issue. This does not auger well in a democratic setup."

In response to a request from DGBMC convenor Jagannath Rajbongshi, Saikia said, "The Congress will place the issue on the floors of the Assembly during the current ongoing Budget session. It is the duty of the State government to resolve the issue."

Besides the Congress, several other organisations participated in the satyagraha. Among these bodies were the Chandrapur Xahitya Xabha, 'Pragjyotishpur Jyastha Nagarik Santha', 'AASU unit of Chandrapur, Pragjyotishpur Jila Tribal Sangha, 'Chandrapur Unnayan Samiti', and the 'Paschim Mayong Unnayan Samiti'.

Also Read: Youth Sustains Head Injury as Protestors Bar GMC Vehicles from Entering Dumping Ground in Chandrapur

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