Respected Departments,

Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board,

We, the residents of Nagpur, are deeply concerned about. This issue has become a significant public health crisis, evident in the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) and the alarming rise in lung infections among the masses.

Poor AQI is Killing the City's Environment and People
Nagpur's AQI has consistently been in the "Poor" category, with recent readings showing a level of 238 on November 21, 2024. This poor air quality is directly linked to the increase in garbage fires, which have surged by nearly 78.8% over the last three years. The smoke from these fires contains harmful pollutants like particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which are known to cause respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and even cancer.

Harmful Effects of Burning Plastic
Burning plastic is particularly dangerous as it releases toxins such as dioxins, furans, and heavy metals into the air. These chemicals are known to cause cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases. The vulnerable populations, including women, children, and those who spend more time outdoors, are most exposed to these harmful fumes.

News and Photos of Open Burning
- Garbage Burning in City Continues: Despite a ban, garbage burning continues to be a problem in Nagpur. The Times of India reported in 2024 that sanitary workers were caught burning garbage in various parts of the city, including Wardhaman Nagar and Bhandara Road.

 

 

Air Quality Worsens: Nagpur's air quality has worsened, with areas like Ram Nagar showing an AQI of 272 on November 21, 2024. This has led to a spike in respiratory illnesses among the population.

Garbage Dumping and Burning at MIDC Hingna: Industrial areas like MIDC Hingna have been plagued by garbage fires, causing significant health and fire hazards. Industrialists have reported that garbage from nearby villages is dumped and burned on vacant plots. Photos shared by industrialists show garbage vehicles bearing names of nearby gram panchayats being emptied there.

 

 

Open Burning on Wardha Road and almost all the areas of Nagpur: Large-scale open burning of garbage and leaf litter has been spotted at over a 3-kilometre stretch on Wardha Road. This illegal activity is causing significant toxicity in the city’s air and damaging existing green cover.

Urgent Need for Action

• We urge the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to take immediate and effective measures to stop illegal garbage burning. This includes:
• Implementing stricter penalties for offenders, such as a fine of Rs 10000 for open burning.
• Increasing the NDS squad to monitor and take strict action against perpetrators.
• Providing alternative waste disposal methods and increasing public awareness about the dangers of burning garbage.
• Regular monitoring and enforcement of anti-pollution laws.

The health of our community and the environment is at stake. We request your immediate attention and action to address this critical issue.

Immediate Action required from concerned authorities because it is a matter of our Health:

The rampant illegal garbage burning in Nagpur has led to a severe public health crisis, with the city's AQI consistently in the "Poor" category and a significant rise in lung infections. The smoke from these fires contains harmful pollutants and toxins, posing a serious threat to the health of residents, especially vulnerable populations. Immediate action is crucial to address this issue, including implementing stricter penalties for offenders, increasing monitoring by the NDS squad, providing alternative waste disposal methods, a toll-free number to register the complaints, adding garbage burning grievance tab on My Nagpur App and raising public awareness. The health of our community and the environment depends on it, and we urge the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to take decisive action now.