UAE | Environment
Residents hold their breath as stench fills neighbourhood
He sweeps the littered alley, depositing the refuse in a little trash bin he lugs around. As he speaks, he covers his nose from time to time - the stench from the open ground near the building is unbearable.
- By Nasheet Jaffer Khan, Community Solutions Editor
- Published: 23:21 November 14, 2008
- The small ground in a neighbourhood of Al Khan, Sharjah, that has been turned into a dumping ground by residents.
- Image Credit: Nasheet Jaffer Khan/Gulf News
Dubai: He sweeps the littered alley, depositing the refuse in a little trash bin he lugs around. As he speaks, he covers his nose from time to time - the stench from the open ground near the building is unbearable.
It's been eight years since Srinivas K. took up work as a "watchman" at a building in the Al Khan area of Sharjah - two of those years have been spent listening to complaints from residents about the "stench from the ground".
"The area was dug up two years ago apparently for some construction activity but nothing came out of it," he said, pointing towards the empty plot that looks more like a landfill site.
Previously used as a parking lot, the plot was soon cordoned off with wooden planks that have since become unlikely graffiti boards. Little did the residents know that used mattresses, suitcases, plastic bottles and litter would be their new neighbours.
Most residents believe that the blame lies with irresponsible developers and residents who don't care to think twice about flinging their rubbish across the street. "Though the area has been dug up and left unattended, why would people and passers by treat it as a dumping ground? It only makes matters worse," Khursheed Anwar, a resident, said.
Other residents worry about potential health risks from the uncovered garbage.
"Children used to play in the area before matters came to such a pass. Is any construction ever going to take place here? I don't want to be living near a dump, forever," said F. A.
When contacted, Abdullah Al Wazzan, a joint owner of the site, said he was unaware that the site had been turned into a landfill.
"I passed by the area last week and didn't notice any problems. I had no idea that the site was being used as a dumping ground. We had it fenced," he said.
He explained how a disagreement with a construction company had led to the planned project being called off.
"We are on the lookout for another contractor and we hope to find one in the next couple of months. However, I think it is the municipality's responsibility to keep the grounds clean and to provide designated areas for dumping garbage," Al Wazzan said.
Srinivas, however, would have none of the alibis. He said: "The municipality does clean up the area from time to time, but people continue to throw garbage. It is a problem they create for themselves."
Do you face a similar problem in your neighbourhood? Did you report it to the authorities? What happened? How do you contribute in keeping your surroundings clean?Tell us about it or send us photographs to readers@gulfnews.com
Your comments
There is trash on the street and between buildings all over Sharjah. Reporting it did not help
M. Sorensen
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 15, 2008, 12:06
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