Municipal Employees Allegedly Caught on Video Burning Garbage, Defying City-Wide Ban

Lack of Accountability Highlights Persistent Pollution Problem in Bhopal’s Karond Area

Despite a comprehensive ban on burning waste, the practice of setting fire to garbage heaps continues across Bhopal, with a shocking new development: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) employees are allegedly responsible for the illegal acts.

On Sunday, multiple piles of garbage were set ablaze in the Vishwakarma Nagar Phase-2 of the Karond area. The incidents came to light when videos of the burning heaps went viral on the corporation’s own internal social media groups, seeming to contradict the very rules the civic body is meant to enforce.

 

Civic Officials Face Accusations and Denial

 

This is not an isolated event in the area. Previous video evidence showed as many as 30 garbage heaps burning simultaneously in the same locality.

In the past, Ramratan Lohia, the Zone 17 in-charge Assistant Health Officer (AHO), was accused of attempting to deceive senior officials by claiming that local residents, and not BMC staff, were starting the fires.

Local residents have once again pointed the finger at Lohia's team, alleging the deliberate burning of waste piles as a shortcut instead of disposing of the trash through the prescribed municipal process. When questioned about the most recent incident, the AHO reportedly claimed to be unaware of the events and denied any involvement by his staff.

Residents claim that garbage burning has become a daily nuisance in Zone 17. They express deep frustration that authorities have repeatedly failed to act on their complaints, raising serious concerns about negligence and a pervasive lack of accountability within the municipal system.

 

History of Neglected Investigations

 

The ongoing issue is a recurring blot on the civic administration's record. A former BMC Commissioner, Harendra Narayan, had previously ordered a strict probe into similar incidents and called for decisive action against those found responsible. However, residents note that no significant corrective measures were ever implemented, and the issue has been largely neglected since.

In light of the new allegations, unnamed BMC officials have stated that investigations are currently underway and assured the public that appropriate action will be taken soon. This promise is being viewed with skepticism by local residents given the history of inaction. The practice of burning garbage not only violates the city's ban but also releases toxic pollutants, directly impacting air quality and public health.