Garbage Dump & Waste to Energy Plant Affected Villages Boycott MCD Elections?

Note: The villages adversely affected by the construction of Ramky's Narela-Bawana Waste to Energy Incinerator boycotted the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections because both BJP led MCD and Congress led Delhi government has been callous towards the adverse effects of garbage dump and the upcoming plant.

Gopal Krishna
ToxicsWatch Alliance

No development, so three villages say no to polls

New Delhi Polling stations at three Delhi villages did not register a single vote on April 15.

Sannoth Village in Alipur, Ladpur near Kanjhawla and Khera village near Kazipur boycotted the municipal polls, protesting various MCD decisions, or the lack of it.

In Sannoth, which has a vote base of 3,000, villagers huddled up at a meeting point, happy with the effectiveness of the boycott.

“We are tired of complaining about the sorry state of affairs in the village. We do not get the basic amenities. Our taps run black, impure water and the entire village stinks because of the huge garbage dump near the waste-to-energy plant here,” Mange Ram (85) told Newsline.

Dayanand Sharma (73) said, “We approached all officials concerned and have written to every agency related to our problems. We also approached the Chief Minister, but to no avail. This was our last resort.”

Villagers were unmoved even after the sub-divisional magistrate of the area visited and tried to convince them to vote.

Bimla Devi (52) said, “Who do we vote for? Has anyone listened to us so far? So many children and elders of the village have fallen sick due to the stench in the area. If our voice has not been heard so far, what is the point in voting?”

In Kazipur, residents protested outside the polling stations with banners announcing boycott of polls. Here, too, villagers complained of lack of basic amenities and refused to vote. The village is said to have at least 1,200 voters.

Ladpur near Kanjhawla too refused to vote protesting the poor state of civic amenities.

Locals in all three villages said panchayats were held over the last few weeks and all villagers agreed to boycott the polls hoping that the authorities will finally take note of their grievances.

Sweta Dutta
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/no-development-so-three-villages-say-no-to-polls/937225/