The residents of Diskitsal along with 23 headman of different villages of Lower Leh staged a protest rally against NAC, Leh demanding to shift the dumping site (Bomb Guard) to another place on November 28 at Diskitsal, Leh.

The peace protest was started from Diskitsal community hall and culminated at Council Secretariat, Leh.

According to the sources, in summer a total of 25 tippers and in winters 7 to 9 tippers loaded with garbage are being dumped at the site every day.

The residents of Diskitsal fears that landfilled waste, garbage and airborne pollutant from the Bomb guard dumping site will make their way into the air and spread diseases in the near future. Since the dumping site is near the residential area it can largely be affected to all villages of Leh city in the days to come.

Stanzin Jungnes, Headman Diskitsal said, “All kind of waste are being dumped at bomb guard, be it construction debris, trash, hospital and slaughter waste. The garbage of the whole Leh area are collected and dumped here. If it continues, there is a great threat to the health of people.”

They demanded to shift the dumping site as the odor of garbage’s spread throughout the vicinity and the dense smog of burnt garbage pollutes the air particularly in the night.

 

He requested Dr. Sonam Dawa, CEC to vacate the dumping site till the next season as the garbage odor spread out in the whole vicinity thus causing a threat to human health. Also, the burning of garbage in the same area leads to air pollution.

Responding to the demand of protestors, Dr. Sonam Dawa, CEC said, “We have a project to clean and shift the dumping site to some other place. A new STP at Skampari is under construction where all kinds of waste are going to be treated scientifically. It is our responsibility and soon after the completion of STP we will clean the Bomb Guard area and hand over the land.” 

Confirming the progress of work on STP Skampari one of the officials assured that by the end of April 2018, the dumping of garbage at Bomb Guard will be stopped completely. 

Terming burning of garbage as an illegal act against the environment, Dr. Sonam Dawa assured to take quick action to stop it. 

Phuntsog Wangdan, Lower Leh, Councillor said, “I am tired of taking up this issue in every General Council Meeting and sought a permanent solution for dumping in Leh. But unfortunately, no action has been taken so far. I strongly condemn the open dumping of garbages near the residential area.”

 

For the shifting of slaughterhouse which is carried out in an unhealthy manner among the waste, Dr. Sonam Dawa said, “I will look into the matter to shift the slaughterhouse as soon as possible from the area.”