Dump yard becomes bone of contention in Malerkotla

Tussle between civic bodies at Dehliz Kalan and Ahmedgarh turned uglier when the residents of Dehliz village organised dharnas over dumping of solid waste at a plot situated on the outskirts of the village.

Though the dharnas were lifted following intervention by senior functionaries of civil and police administration, deadlock continued as sweepers led by the Safai Mazdoor chief Chaman Lal Dulla insisted on registration of a case against those who had obstructed them in performing official duty on Monday.

Dulla informed that a group of residents had allegedly threatened sweepers going to a garbage dump, land taken on lease by the Ahmedgarh Municipal Council for one year, at Dehliz village.

Having reported the matter to authorities at the municipal council, the sweepers lodged a complaint at the Ahmedgarh sadar police station in this regard.

While cops were yet to act, some unknown persons allegedly dumped garbage in front of a shop owned by Dehliz Sarpanch Sagir Mohammad on Wednesday morning. Irritated over the dumping of garbage in front of the shop, residents led by Congress leaders sat on dharnas.

Sarpanch Mohammad alleged that the Ahmedgarh Municipal Council had the garbage dumped in front of his shop with intent to build pressure for continuance of illegal dumping of garbage at a plot situated near residential area.

Krishan Sharma, president, Municipal Council Vikas, alleged that residents of Dehliz village had been interfering in smooth implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission by stopping employees of from dumping solid waste.

“Though civic body had been dumping garbage at this particular plot for over one year, politicians started stopping employees from performing official duty in compliance of Swachh Bharat Mission after the panchayat election as the owner of the plot had contested for the post of sarpanch unsuccessfully,” said Sharma.