Sikkim Garbage Trucks Seized in Siliguri, Mayor Calls for Bengal Govt Action
First Published: 25th December, 2024 17:38 IST
Security personnel stationed at the dumping ground near the Eastern Bypass intercepted the trucks, each carrying nearly 10 tonnes of waste.
Three trucks loaded with garbage from Sikkim were stopped on December 24 while attempting to dump waste at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) dumping ground. The incident has triggered strong reactions from Siliguri Mayor Gautam Deb, who has urged the West Bengal government to intervene and address the issue.
Security personnel stationed at the dumping ground near the Eastern Bypass intercepted the trucks, each carrying nearly 10 tonnes of waste. “For some time, we have noticed trucks from Sikkim bringing waste to Siliguri and dumping it in our SMC yard. Today, three more trucks tried to do the same, but our staff intercepted them,” said Mayor Gautam Deb.
The trucks were seized by the Siliguri Metropolitan Police following the intervention. Deb stressed the need for Sikkim to establish a scientific waste disposal system, stating, “Siliguri cannot bear the burden of Sikkim’s waste.”
This isn’t the first instance of such incidents. In November, a truck from Sikkim was caught attempting to dump clinical waste in the Dabgram-II panchayat area of Jalpaiguri district, leading to protests by local residents and environmentalists over the ecological risks posed by improper waste disposal.
Deb has now formally approached Bengal’s urban development and municipal affairs department to escalate the matter to Sikkim’s authorities. “I have requested the department to take up the issue with the Sikkim Chief Secretary. We cannot allow such practices to continue,” he said, adding that Siliguri’s dumping ground already handles four tonnes of daily waste generated by its 47 wards.
The mayor has also directed SMC officials to file a formal complaint at the Bhaktinagar police station and plans to write to Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, seeking her intervention.
To prevent future incidents, surveillance around the dumping ground has been tightened with upgraded CCTV systems. “We have intensified digital monitoring and will further upgrade it. We hope the Bengal government will address this issue with Sikkim soon,” Deb added.
Also Read: Sikkim: Theng Tunnel Reopens for Upward Traffic After GLOF Closure
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