We stay in the upcoming Sector 137 of Noida in our dream home where we want to stay for the years to come and raise our families. However,  for the past month or so we have faced a physical dis-ease as a strong stench has started emanating from the garbage dumpyard in our backyard (Sector 140A). We can't open our doors for fresh air. We can't walk in the park as when the breeze blows from the dumpyard  site, it carries the stench with it. So we find our normal daily life being impacted.

Sector 140 A is the favoured new dumpyard site with the "twin biolakes" at the entrance to sector 137 having drawn attention through efforts by residents and media.

Why does a dumpyard have to be located so close to a residential area? Why can't the efforts to systematically manage waste not go hand-in-hand with the development of a city/ sector like water and electricity?

Unfortunately,  as the waste management system for Noida awaits operation at Astoli,  it is the residents of the sector whose health and quality of life are compromised with the dumpyards in the neighbourhood (however temporary they may be). It is well known that open dumpyards lead to the following environmental and health impacts:

1) Air Pollution as dumpyards are known to emit gases/ emissions that pose health risks particularly respiratory ailments. 

2) Soil Pollution as the chemicals in the waste are absorbed in the soil and taken up by plants, thus entering the food chain, apart from causing decreased soil fertility and plant vigor.

3) Water Pollution as water percolating through the waste can leach out chemicals and contaminate the ground water. It can also lead to Bioaccumulation (gradual buildup of toxic substances in the body and disease after crossing a threshold level) and Biomagnification (increase in concentration of a substance in a food chain). This is worrisome as currently ground water is the only source of drinking water.

The issue has been reported in media also recently by the Times of India. 

http://m.timesofindia.com/city/noida/Sec-137-residents-victims-of-open-garbage-dumping/articleshow/54562632.cms

Excerpts from this article include "With all these non-biodegradable wastes being piled up here, contamination of ground water is inevitable. So eventually toxicity will seep into water. This can be carcinogenic" Vishal Singh, a resident of Ecocity and a doctor by profession claimed.

Since we share common natural resources (air and water),  let us all join hands together to make noida really green and contribute to a Swacch Bhaarat, the vision of our prime minister.