For the past 15 days, residents of Mohali's Phase 8B and the nearby Bariyali village have been choking on toxic fumes from a secret garbage disposal site, where the city's waste is being illegally dumped and set ablaze in blatant violation of a national ban.
Secret Dumping Operation Uncovered
Garbage that had mysteriously disappeared from Mohali's streets has been found deep inside Phase 8B. An investigation by The Indian Express revealed that waste-laden trucks are using an unauthorised passage near the Airport Road bridge to unload trash nearly a kilometre inside the area. Residents allege the garbage is then set on fire to destroy the evidence, a practice that has continued daily for a fortnight.
Official Apathy and Public Outcry
Baliyali sarpanch Kulbir Singh accused the Municipal Corporation (MC) of deliberately bypassing proper waste-processing sites. He highlighted the stark contrast in enforcement, pointing out that while government drones swiftly penalise farmers for stubble burning, they have failed to detect this ongoing garbage fire. "This garbage fire has been burning for the last 15 days, no drone has caught it, nor the police have taken action," Singh stated. He added that despite his village achieving "zero stubble burning," his people are forced to inhale poisonous air from the city's waste.
Health Hazards and Environmental Violations
The consequences for the local community are severe. Residents and industrial workers, including Naresh Dhiman, Ashwani Arora, and Sanjeev Mishra, report suffering from breathlessness, eye irritation, and persistent coughing due to the smoke. Environmental experts warn that burning mixed waste and plastic releases a cocktail of dangerous pollutants, including carbon monoxide, PM 2.5 particles, and dioxins, which pose a severe threat to children, the elderly, and asthma patients. This activity is a direct violation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, which completely ban open waste burning and prescribe heavy penalties.
When confronted, Mohali Regional Office Executive Engineer Navtesh Singla claimed the issue came to their notice only a week ago and that a fine of Rs 5,000 had been imposed on the MC. Deputy Commissioner Komal Mittal acknowledged it as a "serious issue" and promised immediate action with the civic body.
