Odisha Activists Announce Indefinite Hunger Strike Against Bhubaneswar Dumpyard
In a significant escalation of their environmental campaign, the Odisha Unnayana Parishad has declared an indefinite hunger strike beginning January 27. The voluntary organization, operating under the banner 'Save Sainik School and Remove Dumping Yard,' will stage their protest directly in front of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation headquarters.
Health Hazards and Environmental Degradation
The decision comes as a direct response to what activists describe as persistent health hazards and severe environmental degradation caused by the illegal dumping yard at Gadakana. During a crucial meeting held on Sunday, committee members expressed profound dissatisfaction with recent actions by regulatory authorities.
Specifically, the group criticized the Odisha State Pollution Control Board for issuing what they consider a lenient warning to the BMC. Activists argue that such minimal action fails to address the gravity of the situation, particularly given the documented loss of lives and increasing incidence of terminal illnesses among residents of Dhirikuti slum, VSS Nagar, and surrounding areas over the past fifteen years.
Campaign Strategy and Demands
As part of their intensified campaign, committee members will conduct awareness drives on Sunday and Monday at local markets and slum areas. These efforts aim to assist affected families in filing individual compensation claims against the municipal corporation.
The campaign has put forward several specific demands:
- Complete and immediate cessation of waste dumping at the Gadakana site
- Development of a concrete timeline for relocation of the dumpyard
- Creation of a comprehensive compensation package for affected victims
Unconventional Compensation Proposal
In a notable departure from typical protest demands, the campaign has insisted that compensation amounts should not be drawn from public funds or taxpayer money. Instead, they have demanded that financial restitution be recovered directly from the personal salaries and assets of municipal commissioners who served during the dumpyard's operation.
"Toxic fumes and groundwater contamination represent a direct consequence of BMC's administrative failure," stated committee members. "While the Pollution Control Board acts as a silent spectator, people continue to suffer and die. We will maintain our position at the BMC office until we witness tangible progress toward relocation and victim compensation."
Call for Independent Investigation
The committee has further called for an independent field investigation to be conducted within the next seven days. They propose that this assessment should include health experts and civil society members to accurately evaluate the true scale of environmental damage caused by the illegal dumping operations.
This hunger strike represents the latest chapter in an ongoing struggle between environmental activists and municipal authorities in Bhubaneswar, highlighting growing public concern about urban waste management and environmental justice in Odisha's capital city.
