Indiscriminate waste disposal by the Boalmari municipality in a ditch beside the Magkandi-Bhatiapara road has been posing health and environmental risk.

The municipality has been dumping the garbage in the ditch near Chourasta (intersection) of the municipality for the last two years. The ditch is, however, owned by the Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

Municipality Garbage Management Inspector Omresh Roy said they dumped the wastes after Mitali Electronic owner Rezaul Karim requested them, claiming that he owned the land.

Truck driver Ali Azam said they dumped the wastes here from 12 spots in the municipality as asked by the authorities concerned.

The intersection area is very busy and important because the bus stand, auto-bike stand and micro stand are located here. Besides, there are more than 100 shops opposite the dumping spot. People crossing the area have to cover their noses due to the unbearable odour emanating from the garbage.

Locals said the municipality authorities have been dumping the wastes in the ditch after Rezaul requested them as he has a house and some land beside the spot.

The municipality authorities were informed about the matter, but they have not taken any step yet in this regard, locals said.

Refuting the allegation, Rezaul said he did not ask the municipality authorities to dump waste on the land. They are dumping waste here for their own interest, he added.

“The bad smell coming from the garbage is really unbearable, so no customer comes to my shop,” said Asad Sheikh, a shopkeeper of the area.

“I close the shop when the odour is strong. This is a great problem and we want a solution,” said Matiar Rahman, owner of Sabin Motors.

Matiar said they met the mayor thrice and submitted an application to him for removal of the garbage from that place, but no step has been taken yet.

 Mayor Mozaffar Hossain said Rezaul wrote to them for dumping waste there. He said they started dumping the wastes thinking that he owned that land.

RHD Executive Engineer Md Jahangir Alam said the municipality authorities had been dumping wastes in their land without permission. Jahangir said they would take steps in this regard as soon as possible.