Fuel shortage halts waste removal in Rajshahi
Waste removal operations of the Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) have been suspended for the past two days due to a shortage of fuel, leading to the accumulation of garbage in different parts of the city and causing inconvenience to residents.
According to RCC officials, waste from designated secondary collection points has not been transported to the dumping ground since Friday because garbage transport vehicles were unable to operate without adequate fuel.
A visit to several areas of the city showed that waste has piled up along roads, in alleys and around dustbins, creating foul odors. In some places, garbage from secondary collection points has even spread onto nearby main roads.
At the secondary collection point near Ghora Chattar in the City Bypass area, the garbage booth was found completely filled, with waste scattered along a portion of the adjacent main road. Similar conditions were observed at several other secondary points across the city. Due to the backlog, door-to-door waste collection in some neighborhoods has also been disrupted.
Residents have urged the authorities to restore waste removal services quickly, warning that prolonged accumulation of garbage could lead to environmental pollution and increased health risks.
Md Abdul Karim, a resident of the Bilsimla area, said that waste from local dustbins had not been removed for the past two to three days. “The garbage is spreading foul odors and making it difficult for people to move around the area,” he said.
Rafiqul Islam, a businessman in the Ghora Chattar area, said the locality is close to a medical zone where a large amount of waste is generated daily. “If the waste is not removed regularly, it increases environmental pollution and creates health risks for residents,” he said.
Sheikh Md Mamun, Chief Conservancy Officer of RCC, said waste transportation from secondary points to the dumping ground had been halted since Friday due to the fuel shortage.
Fuel arrangements have now been made and the city corporation hopes to resume waste removal operations from Saturday night, he added.
Shakhawat Hossain/MHK