Door-to-door garbage collectors to suspend work in Zirakpur, Dhakoli areas from May 27

Gaurav Kanthwal

Tribune News Service

Zirakpur, May 24

The Door-to-Door Garbage Collectors’ Union in Zirakpur has announced that its workers will not collect garbage from door to door in Zirakpur, Baltana, Dhakoli, Peer Muchalla and other areas from May 27. The collectors took this decision after the Municipal Council asked them to collect wet and dry garbage in a segregated manner recently.

“There is a high risk of contracting the Covid-19 virus while segregating wet and dry garbage from houses of Covid patients. In Mohali and Kharar, the municipal body is sending its own vehicles to lift

the garbage from the houses of Covid patients. It should be done here also,” said Shamsher Singh, head of the collectors’ body.

There are more than 500 door-to-door garbage collectors who provide daily service in the area. Till now, door-to-door garbage collectors were picking up the waste cumulatively and depositing it at the sites designated by the civic body. With the increasing number of cases in Zirakpur area, the collectors said they fear contracting the virus as the exposure increases during the segregation.

“Last year, the authorities concerned used to paste a notice outside the houses of Covid patients. Now, the exercise has been stopped. So, we do not know which house has coronavirus patients,” said Ram Pal, a door-to-door garbage collector.

Zirakpur Municipal Council officials said the concern of waste collectors would be addressed and a solution would be worked out soon.

Over 500 garbage collectors in area

There are more than 500 door-to-door garbage collectors who provide daily service in the area. Till now, door-to-door garbage collectors were picking up the waste cumulatively and depositing it at the sites designated by the civic body.