Mohali, June 22: Residents of Phase 11, Mohali, convened a meeting on Saturday to raise alarm over the expansion of a municipal garbage processing plant near Sector 65, citing serious health hazards and potential safety risks to aircraft due to its proximity to Mohali Airport.
Originally established as a site to handle dry leaf waste, the facility has allegedly transformed into a full-scale dumping ground, prompting outrage among locals who say the area now suffers from unbearable stench and deteriorating air quality.
“The smell is so strong at times, it’s difficult to even breathe,” said one resident, adding that families are increasingly worried about respiratory and hygiene-related illnesses. “This was never supposed to be a garbage site. Now it’s putting our lives at risk.”
Residents also flagged aviation safety, pointing out that the dump lies within 1 km of the airport, raising the risk of bird strikes due to the accumulation of waste. “This poses a very real threat to aircraft operations, and we can’t understand how such a site was allowed to come up so close to the airport,” said another resident during the meeting.
In a unanimous resolution, the community demanded immediate closure and relocation of the plant away from residential and flight-sensitive zones. They resolved to take the matter to local authorities, including the Mohali MLA, the mayor, and the Municipal Corporation Commissioner, urging urgent intervention before the situation escalates further.
“We’re not just concerned about property values or inconvenience,” a spokesperson for the residents said. “This is about health, safety, and environmental responsibility.”
The Municipal Corporation has yet to respond publicly to the concerns raised, but residents say they are prepared to escalate the issue if no action is taken.
