The Committee reached the dumping site located at Amar Jyoti Gram, Ward No.-17, Darjeeling Municipality, where the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) consisting of biodegradable and non-biodegradable (inert) were dumped in a small area by Darjeeling Municipality. Then to accommodate fresh MSW within the small area, the pay loader was used by this municipality to slide down waste along the hill slope for about 100 mtr. Some human habitations were found near the dumping ground. The committee also visited at the corresponding lower altitude, Mukti Dham, a crematorium operated by the Municipality wherefrom entire dump of solid waste was visible. Huge amount of unsegregated MSW were found to be dumped on this slope of the hill. As per version of Sri Nitesh Gurung, Councillor of Ward No.17, Darjeeling Municipality, the Municipality has already planned for scientific disposal of waste. The site for the same is identified by this municipality, which is about 100 mtr. further downhill from Mukti Dham. Presently, there is a new under-construction road of about 50 mtr. out of 750 mtr. length from Mukti Dham towards the proposed segregation/processing unit executed by the Municipal Engineering Directorate (MED) of Urban Development & Municipal Affairs Department. The exact location of proposed site could not be reached as there is no approach road. It is also to state that only after completion of the road and necessary land development work taken up by the MED the work of segregation/processing unit can be started.
