Doomdooma: A garbage dumping site along the Doomdooma bypass in Assam’s Tinsukia district has raised concerns over possible contamination of the nearby Dibru Xuti, a channel of Dibru river and the impact on surrounding wetlands, grasslands and wildlife.
The site falls under the Doomdooma Forest Division and is located near Sitlapatti. Residents fear that rainwater could carry waste from the roadside dump into the river, threatening aquatic life and the surrounding ecosystem.
Arjun Barua, a retired teacher and senior citizen from Doomdooma, alleged that the Doomdooma Municipal Board was responsible for dumping the garbage at the site.
“The garbage is being thrown there by the Doomdooma Municipal Board. I have noticed that it is being dumped just beside the road,” Barua told Northeast Now.
A local resident also expressed concern that runoff from the garbage heap could enter the river during the rainy season and harm aquatic animals.
Residents said the area looked different before the bypass was constructed a few years ago, with tea gardens and trees alongside wetlands and grasslands that supported birds and other wildlife.
The presence of feral horses and wild buffaloes in the surrounding area has added to concerns about the possible effects of indiscriminate waste disposal. Locals warned that animals forage in the area and may consume discarded waste.
“With the garbage heap situated close to a river and a landscape of ecological significance, the issue highlights the need for scrutiny of waste-disposal practices and their environmental consequences,” local resident Jagdish Tanti said.
Conservationists have also raised concerns over possible river contamination and its impact on bird habitats and wildlife.
The waste-disposal site and the potential movement of garbage into the Dibru river channel have prompted calls for scrutiny by the concerned civic and forest authorities.
Doomdooma Municipal Board chairperson Srimati Kanta Bhattacharjee was not immediately available for comment on the site’s official status.