Garbage trolleys attract cows, rag-pickers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Dec 25 — There are more garbage parks than garbage disposal points in the city today. The use of open, low garbage trolleys has added to the woes of those residents who live near the houses where these trolleys have been positioned.

The problem, of course, is more in phases II and III sectors, where it is both aggravated and compounded by the ever-increasing population of stray cattle.

For hundreds of cows, these garbage trolleys have become "feeding stations". A majority of the stray cattle have been found to feed even on polythene bags carrying both dry and wet garbage put in these garbage trolleys.

Besides the cattle, the other chronic problem has been of rag and polythene bag-pickers who jump into the garbage bins and trolleys, scurry through them and dig open polythene bags, pieces of plastic and other junk material while spilling the garbage all over the place.

In the absence of any proper monitoring system, these garbage dumping points have been slowly converted into dumping points for all types of waste material, including rubble, cut branches of trees, dry twigs and other vegetative waste.

Take, for example, the case of an open park in Sector 27-B adjoining the Community Centre-cum-proposed Municipal Complaint Centre where the garbage dumping point has been growing rapidly and has nearly occupied now one-fourth of the park.

The situation is no different in Sector 44-B where an open space on the road dividing Sector 44-A from B, has been converted into an open garbage dumping park. Garbage, both wet and dry, including decaying organic material, lies scattered all over the place. Even when the garbage collection vehicle comes to empty the trolleys, the area is seldom cleaned. No DDT power is ever sprayed around these garbage collection points.

One has to pass through this stretch of road which stinks. Adjoining most of these garbage collection points sit footpath vendors, including those selling tea or running tandoors, exposing foodstuff so cooked to insanitary conditions and infection.

The residents want that some sort of system should be evolved where stray cattle and junk, rag and polythene bag pickers are prevented from sifting these garbage trolleys. The need for separate trolleys for plastic waste, polythene bags and other recyclable material has also been stressed by a number of resident welfare associations. But little has been done.