Wet garbage dumps emanate smell, make life hell for residents

AMRITSAR: The recent rains in the city have exposed tall claims of officials of the Municipal Corporation MC regarding efficient drainage of water accumulated on roads

Updated At : 06:21 AM Jul 21, 2016 IST

Cattle can be seen feeding on garbage at Ram Tirath Road adjoining Khalsa College in Amritsar which has turned into a dumping ground. photo: RK Soni

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 20

The recent rains in the city have exposed tall claims of officials of the Municipal Corporation (MC) regarding efficient drainage of water accumulated on roads. It has also made life hell for the people and commuters.

The stench from the garbage, which has become wet due to rainwater, dumped along road sides has engulfed the surroundings. Improper lifting of garbage has been a bane of the holy city and the condition is awful in the old walled area.

Even after a few months, a private company hired by the MC for setting up a solid waste management project, besides handling garbage lifting and transportation, has failed to start the work in the city.

Garbage dumped on roadside along the boundary of historic Khalsa College on Ram Tirath Road and just near the office of the Irrigation Department on main GT Road is a glaring example of indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned. The road also leads to Guru Nanak Dev University. Khalsa College Institute of Veterinary Sciences and Khalsa College of Law are just half a km away from the spot.

Cows and stray animals can be seen feeding on garbage, which poses a risk to commuters, especially two-wheeler drivers.

“We have written a number of times to the MC authorities about the problem, but to no avail,” said BS Rataul, deputy director, public relations.

Sartaj Singh, another resident of the adjoining Nikka Singh Colony, said even after protest lodged by the people, the garbage was still being dumped here.

Surjit Bajwa, another resident, said the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan was now confined only to a publicity stunt wherein political leaders came to get themselves photographed and then forget everything.

Ironically, Local Bodies Minister belongs to the holy city, but he has also confined himself to his constituency thus ignoring other parts of the city.

Mayor Bakshi Ram Arora said the MC had sternly asked the private company hired for garbage lifting, transportation and setting up solid waste management plant to start its operations by August 15.

He said repeated strikes by the staff were also a reason behind improper lifting of garbage. “I will discuss the issue with senior MC officials and work out some solution for early lifting of garbage,” he added.