Organic waste continues to go up in flames in Ludhiana city areas
The illegal practice of burning organic waste continues to go unabated in the city. In some instances, it has come to light that sweepers of the Municipal Corporation (MC) indulge in burning the waste while the civic body continues to be in slumber.
In complete violation of the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the sweepers were seen burning organic waste at Sarabha Nagar early this morning.
The Council of Engineers has also field a complaint in this regard on Monday. Sharing the incident, engineer Kapil Arora, president of the council, said this morning around 7:15 am, he saw that organic waste was being burnt near a school at Sarabha Nagar on Gurdwara Singh Sabha Road.
“When I enquired, the person, who claimed to be an employee of the corporation, accepted that he, along with another sweeper, has burnt the same as no one comes to the place to collect the organic waste” he said.
Arora has shot a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, Chief Engineer of the Punjab Pollution Control Board and Principal Secretary, Department of Local Government, in this regard.
“If organic waste is not being handled properly by the MC, it is a matter of serious concern that how garbage dumped on roads by shopkeepers in Ludhiana is being managed. There are high chances that incidents of burning of garbage along roadsides might be common in early morning hours or late evening hours too. Thus, regular surprise visits to locations such as Ghumar Mandi, car repair shops at Samrala Chowk and Jamalpur, Chaura Bazaar, Jawahar Nagar camp, inner roads of old city area, etc. is important to prevent damage to the environment.
As per the directions of the Supreme Court and NGT, the burning of waste and causing damage to the environment is a punishable offence and the MC has been issuing challans against violators but now when employees of the civic body are indulging in such an activity, against whom action will be taken.
“We have already taken up the matter of burning of organic waste and garbage by the corporation, LIT and others with the NGT and the tribunal has appointed the Court Commissioner to verify facts regarding solid waste management in Ludhiana at 23 places, including burning of organic waste by MC sweepers and others.
It is not the only incident where organic waste are burnt openly without any fear.
Gursewak Singh, another resident from the Jalandhar bypass area, said: “Burning of garbage is a normal practice here. Many times, waste gets collected in vacant plots, which is burnt by the people later. The MC should keep a check on the issue,” he said.
Another resident from BRS Nagar said he had often seen sweepers and workers burning organic waste in morning hours. It not only adds to pollution but also destroys the garbage that could be converted into organic manure.
Vipal Malhotra, health officer of the Municipal Corporation, said they had issued strict instructions to sweepers not to burn waste and action was taken against those who were found indulging in same. The MC is also conducting training of the sweepers at regular intervals.
He said: “Though these sweepers claim to be working with the civic body but many times it is observed that they are employed by councillors (former and aspiring). They burn waste and indulge in such practices. They generally claim to be MC workers but in reality, they are employed by a specific person and not by the corporation.”
