Hyderabad: Residents of Ameenpur, one of the fastest-growing localities in the western corridor, are grappling with the presence of a dumping yard in their locality. According to locals, nearly 30 colonies are affected by persistent foul odour and worsening environmental conditions. Residents say the stench during garbage transportation, along with thick smoke from frequent waste burning, has become unbearable. Despite repeated complaints, they say the issue remains unresolved, posing risks to both public health and the environment.Residents allege that the facility was initially planned almost six years ago as a garbage transfer station by the local municipality, but has gradually turned into a full-fledged dumping ground, far exceeding its intended capacity and purpose. Recently, the Ameenpur People’s Association (APA) submitted a representation to the commissioner of the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), urging authorities to relocate the dumping yard to a site away from residential areas. The association stressed that immediate intervention is necessary to protect the health and well-being of thousands of residents living nearby.“The dumping yard in Ameenpur, situated amid several residential colonies, has become a serious health hazard and a life-threatening issue for people living in the surrounding areas, especially children and the elderly. We request your kind intervention on humanitarian grounds so that the residents of these colonies can breathe clean air and live in a healthy environment,” the association said in a letter to the commissioner.Residents have also flagged the constant movement of garbage trucks through narrow internal roads, which not only adds to congestion but also increases the spread of waste and odour. Many say this has significantly reduced the livability of the area, even as property values and population continue to rise.Residents also pointed to an increase in respiratory ailments due to prolonged exposure to smoke and polluted air. Adding to their concerns, locals said leachate from the waste heap is seeping into nearby open areas, raising fears of groundwater contamination. During the monsoon, the situation is expected to worsen, with runoff carrying waste residue into surrounding colonies and low-lying areas. “We have submitted a request to the district collector to identify and allot suitable land outside the ORR limits for relocating this facility. Once land is allocated, the dumping yard will be cleared,” said a senior official in CMC.
