Wed Mar 26 17:46:47 UTC 2025: ## Howrah Landslide Leaves Dozens Homeless, Sparks Protests Over Waste Relocation
**KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL –** A landslide at a Howrah landfill has left 96 families homeless and sparked protests over the government’s plan to relocate the landfill’s waste. West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim announced Tuesday that new homes will be built for the affected families under the Banglar Bari scheme, a project expected to take 18 months to complete. In the interim, temporary housing in shipping containers has been provided.
The landslide, which followed a pipeline explosion, caused roads and houses to collapse last week. While water service has been restored, the minister acknowledged ongoing drainage issues, promising work to begin within a month. He stated that the damaged houses were built by encroachers.
The government’s solution involves moving waste from the Belgachia landfill to sites in Kolkata (Dhapa), Hooghly (Baidyabati), and Shibpur (Arupara). However, this decision has been met with immediate resistance from Arupara residents who staged protests Wednesday, fearing environmental damage and health hazards. They argue that the affected families should be relocated, not the waste.
Adding to the crisis, the lack of elected representatives in Howrah, with the municipal corporation’s term expired since 2018, has left residents with limited avenues for redress. A board of administrators currently oversees the municipality’s functions.
First Piper 