Jawaharnagar Dumpyard Has Become Major Public Health Threat, Says Etala Rajender

Malkajgiri MP Etala Rajender on Friday said he would continue efforts beyond political considerations to find a permanent solution to the long-standing environmental and public health crisis caused by the Jawaharnagar dumpyard .

The MP conducted a field inspection at the dumpyard along with leaders from various political parties, government officials and representatives of Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd , following which a review meeting was held to discuss the worsening situation.

Speaking to the media, Etala Rajender expressed serious concern over the massive accumulation of waste at the site, stating that nearly 10,000 metric tonnes of garbage being dumped at a single location was unprecedented and alarming. He alleged that the Ramky company, which had entered into an agreement with the government to recycle waste, had failed to fulfil key obligations under the contract.

He accused the firm of violating “zero discharge” norms , leading to severe environmental damage in surrounding areas. According to the MP, lakes within a 40-kilometre radius have been badly affected, while groundwater in nearby regions has become heavily contaminated.

Etala Rajender said air, water and noise pollution emanating from the dumpyard had created a serious threat to public health, affecting lakhs of residents living in surrounding localities. He claimed that pollution levels were so severe that they were impacting pregnant women, livestock and the overall ecological balance of the region.

The BJP leader also alleged that despite sustained protests by local joint action committees, the company continued to evade accountability through legal mechanisms and misleading reports. He further claimed that not even half of the garbage arriving at the site every day was being properly recycled.

Referring to his recent meeting with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy , the MP said he had directly raised the issue and questioned whether the people of Jawaharnagar would ever be freed from the burden of the dumpyard.

He said that following the Chief Minister’s directions, officials including Commissioner Vinay Krishna Reddy and Ramky representatives had carried out a detailed ground-level inspection. Authorities have now been instructed to prepare a comprehensive report within three days , after which another meeting with the Chief Minister is expected.

Etala Rajender said the government was also examining alternative waste management models that would prevent the city’s garbage from being dumped at a single location. He noted that decentralised waste disposal systems using modern technology in multiple zones were being considered to minimise pollution.

Stating that the BJP had been fighting against the Jawaharnagar dumpyard issue for several years, the MP added that support from the Central government would also be sought if required to resolve the crisis permanently.