The residents of Ramachak-Bairiya village, around 5km from Zero Mile on Patna-Gaya Road, have lost the first round of their battle against the civic body over a sanitary garbage landfill site at their doorstep.

The environment watchdog has cleared the first stage of the project. The state-level expert appraisal committee (SEAC), a technical panel of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), has recommended to its parent “authority” to approve the sanitary landfill site project upon submission of an affidavit by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC). The official declaration of the civic body would have to guarantee several stipulations, including complete prohibition of open dumping and removal of the existing garbage heaps from the site prior to development of the sanitary landfill facility.

The Patna residents would benefit from the project because the city would get its first ever authorised landfill site, where garbage from the entire city would be scientifically disposed.

Informing about the decision taken on the landfill site project during the meeting of SEAC last Saturday, Ashok Ghosh, a member of the committee, told The Telegraph: “Based on the presentation made by Patna Municipal commissioner Kuldip Narayan and detailed deliberations on various aspects associated with the project, the SEAC has decided to recommend it to SEIAA upon submission of an affidavit by PMC.”

The landfill site is spread over 85 acres at Bairiya and surrounded by six densely populated villages Kanauji-Kachuwada, Manpur-Bairia, Illahibag, Chakvairia, Karnpura and Sitjaunchauk. Their total population is estimated to be 20,000.

Ghosh said: “PMC has been dumping of garbage at the landfill site till date unscientifically. It has led to formation of huge mounds of trash, leading to health hazards. Thus, PMC would be asked to submit an affidavit that it would stop open dumping immediately and the existing garbage heaps would be removed at the earliest. The affidavit would also contain a clause that requires PMC to get approval of SEIAA for carrying out any construction at the landfill site (waste processing facility).”

The SEAC has also asked PMC to mention in the affidavit that the detailed project report of the sanitary landfill facility submitted by it would be completely insulated from groundwater. Another clause in it would ensure rehabilitation of residents of nearby villages having genuine grievance with the project.

PMC claimed that the project would not create any environmental hazard for the residents. “There is a misunderstanding regarding this project. Our project comprises development of a waste processing facility and a sanitary landfill site. Garbage would not be seen spilled anywhere around the site once both the facilities are ready. It would probably be one of the most beautiful places around the city once functional. As far as the affidavit sought by SEAC is concerned, we have still not received a written communication in that regard,” said PMC commissioner Narayan.

According to the norms laid down by Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000, the municipal authority or the agency appointed by it has to obtain environmental clearance for setting up and operation of waste processing and disposal facility at a landfill site.

Garbage is being dumped at the Ramachak-Bairiya site from December 2010. Irked over the dumping of trash, the villagers have filed a petition in Patna High Court in November last year.