'We are prepared to block the main road'
Villagers protest waste dumping on Khalakan-Dukan road
DUKAN — Residents of Qamishe village in Dukan’s Khalakan sub-district are expressing growing concerns over the daily dumping of approximately one ton of waste and debris near their village.
The villagers have threatened to block the main road between Dukan and Khalakan if the local authorities do not address the situation.
Jutiyar Kamal, a local resident, shared with 964media the severe implications of the waste disposal on their community, stating, “The dumping of waste from the Khalakan area has become a source of odor, disease, and has even led to the death of our livestock. If this issue is not resolved, we will have to take a stand.”
The Qamishe Village Council has approached the authorities seeking a solution. “We have informed the sub-district commissioner about the problem and were assured of efforts to find a resolution, as the environment of our village is being destroyed. If not resolved, we are prepared to block the main road to vehicle traffic from Dukan to Khalakan,” said Aswad Majid, a member of the Qamishe Village Council.
The Municipality of Khalakan argues that the location where the waste is disposed is far from residential areas, on barren land, and does not belong to arable land.
“The waste buried there minimizes environmental damage,” Aram Omar, the head of Khalakan Municipality, told 964media.
Pictures show the waste strewn across the local countryside, on the surface and not buried underground. Concerns persist regarding the environmental impact of waste disposal, as indiscriminate dumping can still contribute to soil contamination, groundwater pollution, and harm to local wildlife habitats even in the absence of human populations. The aesthetic impact on the countryside is another factor.
Qamishe village is part of the Khalakan sub-district and is situated on the main road between Dukan and Khalakan, currently home to more than 25 families.
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