Alipurduar, June 9: The main road at Chowpathi here was blocked for one hour today by an apolitical organisation.

The protest was organised by the Abhibhabok Mancha, which wants a dumping ground, water supply to every house and widening of the main road in Alipurduar.

Santosh Bose, the secretary of the Mancha, said his outfit would call a strike in town if Alipurduar Municipality did not take any initiative immediately to fulfill their demands. The civic body has received Rs 4 crore from the Italian government for setting up the dumping ground under Solid Waste Management Project.

Although the municipality had selected a couple of sites for the dumping ground, all places were opposed by one political party or other, jeopardising the plan. If the project does not become a reality soon, the funds will lapse.

According to Bose, people have to cover their nose with handkerchiefs as the stench emanating from garbage is nauseating.

Bose also said since the main road was narrower and the number of vehicles had gone up, traffic congestion was a common phenomenon in town. He added that the civic body did not do anything to ensure the supply of drinking water to every home.

Dipto Chatterjee, the vice-chairman of the municipality ruled by anti-Left Front, said “if we return to power in the ensuing polls, we will definitely finalise a site for the dumping ground”.