Residents protest conversion of old vegetable market into trash dump

NASIRIYAH, August 9 — Residents of Nasiriyah’s Al-Fidaa neighborhood have raised concerns about the transformation of an old vegetable market into a trash dump, saying that locals had anticipated the site would be turned into a public park.

The Nasiriyah Municipality reportedly has plans to repurpose the site into a centralized trash collection point. The collected waste would then be transported to a new landfill located 75 kilometers to the south.

Alaa Abd, a resident of Al-Fidaa told 964: “A few days ago, we were taken aback when municipal vehicles carrying waste emptied their load at this site. At a time when the neighborhood needs street paving, maintenance, and cleanliness, this action is disheartening.”

“These accumulated waste piles contribute to increased pollution levels in the area, along with accompanying foul odors. We have made numerous appeals for the transformation of the location into a public park instead of a waste dump.”

Muneer Al-Bakaa, Governor of Nasiriyah, responded to residents’ concerns, saying: “We have taken all appeals into consideration concerning the central dump site. It has been included in the 2023 project plans to become a public park.”

“A technical assessment will be conducted by the Nasiriyah Municipality, and relevant ministries will be engaged based on the assessment.”