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In year 2008, a medieval garbage management system

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Picture this. Stray dogs and crows trying to outdo each other, determined to feast on the garbage dumped at one of the city’s busiest areas. The passengers in cars and buses passing through the area cover their noses with handkerchiefs, hoping the foul stench disappears. This is the scene in many important and busy areas of the city.

Muckheap you Can’t avoid

In and around Dalhousie, there are at least half a dozen such stinking sites. The North gate of Raj Bhavan is an eyesore, given its proximity to the Governor’s House. The nearby business hubs on Brabourne Road and Strand Road are no different.

The one in front of the Millennium Park, which is a patch of greenery in the heart of the concrete jungle, speaks volumes about civic apathy and the average citizen’s indifference.

A helpless Santosh Pathak, councillor of ward number 45, says, “Whenever locals approach me with complaints of garbage not being disposed of, I call up my department officials and chastise them but they pay no heed.”

This is despite the fact that about 10,000 temporary and permanent staffers are supposed to clear the garbage from various parts of the city.

A peril to your health

These open dumps are a major health hazard, with hovering flies, menacing animals, and a pungent smell embittering the air. Everyone exposed to them is at risk.

Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) Debdwaipayan Chattopadhyay says, “The garbage in open areas can include dead rats that have been poisoned by shopkeepers and residents. The crows feeding on it can die, which can create panic.”

The rag pickers could have skin diseases like eczema and dermatitis, the officer added.

Chattopadhyay adds that if there is presence of acid, it may cause burns or may release harmful gases. Dermatologist Dr Chanchal Dhar explains that such forms of garbage can induce respiratory allergy in passers-by. “The smell and the gases discharged can aggravate asthma,” he said. The filth may also cause bacterial and skin infections

Civic body ill-equipped

According to the KMC officials try to clear the garbage and waste material by noon in all wards of Kolkata. In areas such as Dalhousie the garbage is cleared at 9.30 am.

What about an arrangement to cover the stinking hell?

“We have got no arrangement to cover the garbage to prevent flies, stray animals and birds from feeding on it,” said Chandana Ghosh Dastidar, member, MiC, solid waste management.