With the sanitation workers’ strike entering 24th day, Haryana is facing a severe sanitation and public health crisis, leaving massive piles of uncollected garbage decomposing across markets and residential areas. Health experts warned that the prolonged breakdown of civic services during the monsoon season could spark widespread outbreaks of water-borne diseases.
“Garbage accumulation has caused a surge in the number of flies and mosquitoes. Stagnant rainwater over and under the garbage poses a grave risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, malaria, and diarrhoea. The garbage has started decomposing, emitting harmful gases. This was also informed to a delegation of workers during their meeting with cabinet minister Krishan Bedi in Kurukshetra last week.
Municipal teams cleared approximately 250 metric tonnes of garbage on Saturday alone, bringing total collections since August 19 to roughly 1,400 metric tonnes, all shifted to local solid waste treatment facilities, according to Sharma. The state government has, meanwhile, maintained that it has already accepted 13 of their 14 demands and is seeking legal guidance on the regularisation.
Ambala district epidemiologist Dr Sunil Hari said stagnant rainwater mixed with rotting garbage creates ideal breeding grounds for disease vectors. The self-decomposition of wet organic waste, particularly from restaurants, releases harmful gases, while uncleaned, clogged sewer lines risk contaminating municipal drinking water supplies,” he said.
