The residents of Shahpur Jat in south Delhi on Thursday protested for the 10th day against the MCD’s decision to allot land near the village entrance for a waste collection and transportation facility, demanding a written assurance that the proposal will be withdrawn.
Residents said they were concerned about the movement of waste vehicles through the area, additional traffic and parking pressure, foul smell and possible health implications. They have also pointed to the presence of a school right next to the proposed site, where around 2,000 children study.
The protest is being held near the proposed site, with residents saying they will not call it off until the Municipal Council of Delhi (MCD) formally reverses the decision.
The civic body had allotted around 1.61 acres of land in Shahpur Jat, which comes under the Chirag Delhi Ward, to South Delhi MSW Solutions Pvt Ltd, a private agency responsible for collection and transportation of municipal solid waste in the South Zone.
The land is proposed to be used for parking waste collection vehicles, storing equipment, maintenance and other operational requirements.
Shahpur Jat, known for its boutiques, fashion studios and other shops, is also a busy commercial and design hub, with narrow roads that residents said already face traffic and parking congestion.
MCD was yet to respond to the query sent on the issue at the time of writing this report.
Mannat Sharma, a Shahpur Jat resident said, “We understand that Delhi needs waste management facilities, but why place one right at our village entrance, barely a few steps from a school with around 2,000 children? Surely there has to be a more suitable location.”
Another resident, Akshita, said Shahpur Jat had existed for centuries and had gradually developed into one of Delhi’s well-known fashion and design hubs.
“Shahpur Jat has been here for centuries, long before the neighbourhoods that now surround it. Over time, we adapted and became one of Delhi’s best-known fashion and design hubs. So it hurts that after contributing so much to the city, our village entrance is now considered suitable for a waste facility,” she said.
Jayant Panwar, another resident, said the village was already grappling with congestion.
“We already deal with traffic, parking and overcrowding every day. Bringing waste vehicles into the same narrow entrance will only make things worse. We live here and we’ll be the ones dealing with it every day,” he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi on Thursday inaugurated an integrated municipal solid waste collection and transportation project for the South Zone, which will cover 23 wards and consists of 176 vehicles.
Residents claimed that the official representatives had visited the protest site and indicated that the facility would not be constructed following opposition from the village. However, they said they wanted the decision to be formally withdrawn through a written order or an official statement.
Residents also claimed that MCD’s decision to allot land for waste management purposes raises concerns as the location of the site is in the proximity to the historic Siri Fort area.
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Members of the Shahpur Jat Village Society said residents, including women and elderly people, have been participating in the dharna, which has entered its second week.
The protesters said they supported the need for effective waste management in Delhi but maintained that a more suitable location should be identified for the facility.
