Three trucks loaded with trash from neighbouring state of Sikkim reached the dump yards of Bengal's Siliguri on Tuesday, irking mayor Gautam Deb.

An angry Deb also sought the intervention of the Bengal government so that such a practice was stopped.

“For some time, we have been noticing that trucks loaded with wastes from Sikkim are descending to Siliguri and disposing of the garbage in SMC's dumping ground (off the Eastern Bypass). Today (Tuesday), three trucks again tried to dispose of the wastes at the yard, prompting the on-duty security personnel to intercept the vehicles,” said the mayor.

The information was also passed to the Siliguri Metropolitan Police to take necessary action against such illegal practices of the neighbouring state.

Later, the trucks, which Deb claimed were carrying around 10 tonnes of trash, were seized by the police.

In November this year, residents of the Dabgram-II panchayat area of Jalpaiguri district, which is just outside the civic area, intercepted another truck from Sikkim.

The vehicle, they said, was dumping clinical waste in a vacant plot of their area.

Their protests had also drawn the attention of nature lovers and conservationists of the city, who had also voiced their concern over such indiscriminate dumping of waste brought from the neighbouring state.

On Tuesday, Deb said he spoke with officials concerned of the state urban development and municipal affairs department.

“I have requested them to take up the matter with the chief secretary of Sikkim and other concerned officials. We will not allow such dumping of garbage in our place. How can they do it? They should evolve a mechanism for scientific disposal of waste in their own state,” the mayor added.

Every day, the conservancy department of SMC collects around four tonnes of waste from its 47 wards which are then disposed of at the dumping ground.

Deb said that they had also intensified digital surveillance in and around the yard.

“Surveillance through CCTVs at the dumping ground has been intensified and will be further upgraded to check such incidents in future. We hope the state government takes up the issue with Sikkim,” he added.