Garbage dumped at Lohiya Nagar in Kankerbagh. Picture by Ranjeet Kumar Dey

Lohiya Nagar residents have been living with stink and fear of diseases for a fortnight since the civic body started dumping garbage near their homes in the upscale residential colony.

Residents claim that Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been dumping waste at an open space in the area for a fortnight.

“The civic officials are always telling people to keep the city clean. But who will tell the PMC officials not to dump garbage in residential areas?” asked S.P. Bhattacharya, a Patna civil court lawyer and a resident of Lohiya Nagar.

He added that it had become impossible to bear the stench emanating from the new dumping ground.

His neighbours corroborated his complaint. Vinay Kumar Sinha, a Patna High Court lawyer who lives in Lohiya Nagar, said: “We shall fall ill if this dumping is not stopped. This is a residential area with nursing homes and schools. How can the PMC do this?”

Brajeshwar Kumar Sinha, 71, said: “I have to keep the windows of my house closed throughout the day because of the stench of garbage. As I have breathing problems, it has had an adverse impact on my health.”

Not only people with breathing problems, others, too, might soon start experiencing the unpleasant effects of civic carelessness, claim doctors.

JKL Das, head, medicine, Patna Medical College and Hospital, said: “If they continue to live in proximity of the garbage dump, residents of Lohiya Nagar might become vulnerable to diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery and encephalitis. A garbage dump is also a perfect site for breeding of mosquitoes and may lead to an outbreak of vector-borne diseases.”

Lawyer Bhattacharya said: “We have informed Anil Kumar, the executive officer of the Kankerbagh circle of PMC. But he has failed to come up with a solution.”

Asked about it, Anil said: “We were forced to shift the dumping zone for a few days because a Durga Puja pandal was erected near the original site. But we have stopped dumping waste in the residential area since yesterday (Saturday).”

Residents of the area contradicted Anil’s claim. “I spotted some PMC workers dumping waste in the area this morning (Sunday),” said Bhattacharya.

The official insisted that PMC was no more dumping garbage in the area.

What problems are you facing because of garbage dumped near your home? Tell ttbihar@abp.in