Burning of garbage in a vacant plot in Sector 14, Dwarka
With the regular burning of waste and rising levels of pollution for the past one week, residents of Dwarka have taken to social media to seek help. They are running campaigns on various online platforms to raise awareness of the issue and let the authorities know about the situation.
Residents and social organisations such as Dwarka Forum, Sukh Dukh Ke Sathi and Natural Heritage First have been using Whatsapp, emails, Google Groups and Facebook to spread the message about pollution and the open burning of waste in the area. They click photos or make short videos of waste-burning and share them on social media and with the authorities.
Video by Rejimon CK, an RTI activist in Dwarka, shows burning of garbage near Brahma Apartments, Sector 7
Rejimon CK, a well-known RTI activist and former president of both Dwarka Forum and Nav Sansad Vihar CGHS in Sector 22, shared photographs and a video clip with City Spidey that he also sent to the authorities. “I have been sharing photos and videos of open burning of waste. I have written to the administration about the seriousness of the issue. But it’s unfortunate that they are doing nothing,” he said.
Dwarka Forum has also been running a campaign for the cause. SK Goel, joint secretary of the forum and a resident of Vikram Nagar CGHS, said, “All anyone can talk about in Delhi is the pollution. People are sharing photos of garbage being burnt and informing authorities too.” Goel has filed several RTIs about the issue, such as regarding rules of solid waste management and penalty against burning of garbage. He has also written to civic bodies, the pollution control board and the government about this.
Ravi Jaitely, joint secretary of Harsukh Apartments, Sector 7, and general secretary of Senior Citizen Association Dwarka, said, “We have a morning walkers’ club in Sector 7, where we have been discussing the burning of garbage and leaves these days. We have been able to make some difference by stopping this practice near our societies. Let's hope the authorities do something now.”
Burning of leaves in the open in Dwarka Sector 7 PHOTO: Munish Kundra
