Noida: Mounds of horticulture waste dumped near Junpat village in Greater Noida have emerged as a serious health hazard for nearly 20,000 residents across Mu 2, Theta 2 and nearby villages, like Thapkheda, Makoda and Jaitpur. Last week, a blaze in the area smouldered for nearly a week.Complaints of waste piles catching fire have also surfaced from Noida’s Film City (Sector 16A) and Sector 51 on Wednesday, where residents said vacant plots and roadsides were being used to dump horticulture waste.Dry, windy weather and rising temperatures between Jan and April often fuel fires in horticultural waste. Last March, a major blaze broke out at a dumping site in Sector 32 near the ISKCON temple and took 10 days to contain. A similar fire at the same spot in 2024 had taken over a week to extinguish.While the fire department tried to douse the flames in Junpat over the last week, hiccups occurred due to deep pits on the lot, which slowed down progress. By Wednesday, fire officials said the blaze had been controlled and only some spots on the lot remained smouldering. The exact cause of the fire is unknown, and no case has been registered in the matter so far.Mohit Bhati, a resident of Junpat village, said that residents were frustrated by the continued dumping of waste a mere 400m away from the village. Despite multiple requests for intervention, no effective measures have been undertaken by GNIDA on the issue, he said, adding that the recent fire at the plot greatly inconvenienced those residing in the area.“The smoke and fumes from the recent fire at the waste mound have led to various health complications among residents, including breathing difficulties and eye irritation. Additionally, the foul smell from the waste is all-pervasive in the village. The situation has become unbearable,” Bhati said.When asked about the dumping of waste, GNIDA officials said that it was locals and not their contractors who are responsible for the illegal disposal of waste in the area. The officials added that they would look into the matter and resolve it soon. On Wednesday afternoon, commuters in sectors 16 and 51 also navigated through thick smoke hanging in the air, with strong winds only spreading the smoke farther. Passersby were seen covering their faces to avoid the smog.Sanjeev Kumar, RWA general secretary of blocks C to F in Sector 51, said that the recent sanitation workers’ strike has exacerbated the issue, resulting in filth accumulating throughout the sector. “It becomes unbearable for us. Whenever there’s a heavy leaf fall, these fires erupt, and the air quality plummets,” Kumar added. Residentsdemanded immediate action from local authorities.
