Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest Thursday in front of the main gate of Sainik School, demanding the relocation of the Gadakana waste dumping yard located near the school within the Smart City and BMC limits.
The protest, led by Bhubaneswar president Jayasurya Kanungo, saw participation from state president Nishikanta Mohapatra and other senior leaders, who demanded the immediate relocation of the dumping yard beyond the City limits. The party highlighted that the unhygienic conditions at the dumping yard have severely affected over one lakh residents in the area, including students of nearby schools, colleges, and universities, many of whom are frequently falling ill.
AAP alleged that the toxic environment has led to a rise in respiratory and cardiac ailments among locals, with several deaths already reported. Skin diseases are also widespread, affecting nearly every household in the vicinity. The party criticised the BJP for its silence on the issue, pointing out that despite staging a hunger strike earlier, it has remained inactive. “This dumping yard is harming the health of lakhs of families living nearby.”
“However, while the government has failed to remove the dumping yard, it is reportedly planning to relocate the Sainik School. We oppose this decision and demand the immediate removal of the dumping yard, or we will intensify our protest,” said AAP state president Nishikanta Mohapatra.