Poor garbage collection, dumping continue to be a major civic issue

Poor garbage collection and dumping of garbage along the roads continue to be a major civic issue in the Sadar Zone of Ambala Cantonment.

A huge quantity of garbage can be spotted lying outside the bus stand in Ambala Cantonment, in open drain near Vijay Rattan Chowk, Mochi Mandi, 12 Cross Road, and various chowks of residential areas in the Sadar Zone of the Ambala Sadar Municipal Council.

Besides this, a number of stray cattle can be spotted scattering and eating the garbage from the dump.

Jagmohan Sukhija, a commuter, said, “A huge pile of garbage can be spotted outside the Ambala Cantonment bus stand on a daily basis. Due to the presence of vegetable and fruit market near the bus stand, a huge quantity of garbage and rotten vegetables are dumped and stray cattle can be seen eating from the garbage. The same cattle keep roaming on the roads causing inconvenience to commuters.”

“Despite raising the issue multiple times, the dumping of garbage is going on unabated in the drain near Vijay Rattan Chowk. The Municipal Council has failed to find a solution to the problem and the drain remains chocked with plastic bottles, polybags and a huge quantity of garbage. A large number of customers visit the market of the Sadar area daily and the drain chocked with garbage emits foul smell and presents a poor picture. The dustbins placed in the colonies are in poor condition and have been lying damaged. Due to poor lifting, the dustbins remain full and the garbage can be spotted lying outside,” said Ravi Kumar, a resident.

Former member of the House of the Municipal Council, Onkarnath Pruthi, said, “The Municipal Council should ensure proper garbage collection and scientific disposal, besides taking action against those who dump the garbage and even set the garbage on fire. The residents should also ensure that the waste is dumped in the garbage vehicles of the Municipal Council. There are flaws in the system and the contractors don’t engage adequate number of sanitation workers and vehicles to ensure proper and timely lifting of the garbage. Public participation is also very important and council should also focus on source segregation of waste.”

Meanwhile, District Municipal Commissioner Sachin Gupta, said, “Directions have been already issued to officials and contractors to improve garbage collection and ensure timely lifting of garbage from the primary collection points too. Efforts are being made to phase out the primary points in the next two months and contractors have been told to increase the number of vehicles to transport the garbage disposal centre. We will beautify the spaces.”

“Minor drains have already been covered and in the major open drains it will be ensured that there is no dumping and nets will be installed to stop the garbage blockage and smooth flow of water in Ambala Sadar and the city. Soon challans will be issued to the people found dumping garbage and littering. All efforts will be made to improve sanitation in Ambala for which various initiatives are also being implemented,” he added.