Residents of Bakoteh and Manjai Kunda are looking on in disbelief as a new petrol station is constructed near the Bakoteh Dumpsite.

Sources disclosed to What's On-Gambia that the project was given the green light by PURA, Department of Physical Planning and the National Environment Agency (NEA) without any environmental impact assessment.

A resident in Bakoteh said: “We have complained about the dangers of the location of the petrol station, but it fell on deaf ears."

He added: "It seems the authorities are more interested in satisfying the businessman than to follow their own regulations and obligations. It could be possible they were bribed."

A prominent petroleum engineer, who begged for anonymity, said: "PURA is not doing what they are paid to do. You cannot have a petrol station near a dumpsite, where there is always fire. Are they waiting for an inferno to happen before they realise it?"

This outlet has contacted both PURA and the NEA, but they are yet to reply.