Siliguri, 24th March: The issue of the dumping ground in Siliguri has sparked a political clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), with both parties blaming each other ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
On Monday, during the BJP’s protest at the Municipal Corporation, Dabgram-Fulbari MLA Sikha Chatterjee launched a scathing attack on Mayor Gautam Deb. She alleged that for the past ten years, only assurances had been given regarding the dumping ground issue without any concrete action. She pointed out that the dumping ground falls within her constituency and has been causing severe problems for residents due to the foul smell and toxic smoke from frequent fires, which she claimed were leading to health issues and hospitalizations.
Targeting directly, Chatterjee stated that she had submitted a memorandum to the commissioner instead of the ‘Apadartha’ (worthless) Mayor, demanding the removal of the dumping ground. She further accused the current board of failing to provide adequate drinking water and civic services to the people of Siliguri.
In response, Mayor Gautam Deb stated that Sikha Chatterjee is senior to him, and prayed for wisdom. Addressing the dumping ground issue, he claimed that several projects are underway to resolve it.
He noted that the dumping ground has existed since before independence and that one-third of it has already been cleared, with ongoing work to dispose of the remaining waste.
The Mayor also criticized the BJP, alleging that they only raise such issues ahead of elections. Further, the Mayor took a dig at BJP MP and MLA, accusing them of failing to contribute to development.
