Winter Woes: Bhopal Municipal Corporation's Ban On Bonfires Leave Homeless Shivering

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): With the BMC imposing a ban on bonfires to check air pollution in the city, protection from freezing winter has now become a major challenge for homeless families spending their night under the sky. Many homeless people either take shelter at the footpath, road side, bus terminals, market corridors to keep them safe from the biting cold and bonfires were the best way for these families to battle the extreme cold conditions.

Earlier, to provide relief from biting cold, the civic body would light bonfires at public places like bus stands, railway stations, hospitals, temples, Ren Basera and other such places. But this winter, no such initiative has been made at public places and the homeless people are left battling the winter chill.

However, providing some relief the municipal administration has installed electric heaters at Ren-Basera. The objective behind prohibiting any kind of bonfire is to check poor air quality. The BMC has started taking action against people lighting bonfires. The municipal body has arranged electric heaters at Ren Basera community shelters located at ISBT Bus Stand, cancer hospital premises, TB Hospital premises, Hamidia Hospital, Yadgar-e-Shahjahani Park, Railway Station Platform No. 06, Nehru Nagar and Halalpur Bus Stand.

According to BMC officials, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had put a complete ban on open burning of waste on lands, including landfill sites and BMC is following the directives. The civic body has completely banned bonfires, traditional tandoor, and burning of waste in the open. NGT directed to all State Governments and their Pollution Control Boards.