Waste mgmt key poll plank in Panchkula

Poor management of solid waste and non-segregation of garbage at dumping grounds of Sector-23 and Jhuriwala have become the most evocative issues among voters as the second consecutive term of BJP leader Gian Chand Gupta and political campaigning for the October 5 polls nears an end.

The matter of management of solid waste remained a hot-topic in Panchkula throughout the election campaigning.

The district, having 4,38,245 voters, lacks a solid waste management plant and all the daily produce of solid waste in the region is dumped at the Jhuriwala dumping ground without segregation. It is the main concern of residents of sectors across the Ghaggar (Sectors 21 to 28, 31 and some villages). The residents held a protest outside the MC office on August 23 and many announced not to cast votes.

Poor groundwater quality

The groundwater quality has been affected by the leachate from Jhuriwala dump. The residents have to bear with the foul smell.  —Dharam Singh Hera, chief, RWA, sector 26

S+4 a major concern

The matter of S+4 constructions is a major concern for residents of Panchkula, especially for those living in old sectors. —SK Nayar, president, citizen’s Welfare ASSN

The residents said, “The government has failed to ensure segregation of waste at source and installation of a solid waste management plant at any place outside the city, but continues to dump the whole city’s garbage nearby our houses at Jhuriwala.”

Sanjeev Goyal, president, Citizen Committee of House Owners Sector 25, said area residents have to bear with the foul smell emanating from the dumping ground. “My wife is an asthama patient. From the day, we shifted to Sector-25, she is dependent on an inhailer due to air pollution. Many other people in the area are asthama patients.”

Dharam Singh Hera, president of Residents Welfare Association, Sector 26, said the groundwater quality has been greatly affected by the leachate (contaminated liquid generated from water percolating through solid waste disposal site). The dump also leads to foul smell in the area, due to which the air gets polluted.

At times, we can’t even switch on the coolers and air-conditioners due to the smell. The area is also highly affected by houseflies and mosquitoes.

“We want the authorities concerned to clear the Jhuriwala site completely and make it a forest area,” residents said.

However, BJP’s Gian Chand Gupta claimed that the government had cleared the two sites having tons of legacy waste (90,837 MT from Jhuriwala and 3,04,645 MT from Sector-23) lying there since decades and has assured further remedial steps. Chander Mohan has assured installation of a garbage processing unit outside residential areas. Aam Aadmi Party’s Prem Garg has also promised to end dumping of waste at the site and turn the city’s waste into a source of revenue. JJP-ASP’s Sushil Garg has also assured to clear the site and turn the dump into a forest area.

Meanwhile, political parties have side-stepped the matter of S+4 constructions in their manifestos. The state government’s decision to grant permissions for the constructions in 2022 had led to a furore among residents. Since then, it is a hot-topic among residents.

While in July BJP’s Gian Chand Gupta expressed shock over the state’s decision to allow S+4 constructions and local JJP leaders wrote to the Chief Administrator Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) against the vertical expansion, the matter has been missing from election manifestos of all political parties.

The Citizen’s Welfare Association of Panchkula has gone to an extent of filing a complaint to the election commission against the Country Planning Department’s removal of embargo on S+4 constructions. The association members have urged the voters to put pressure on political parties to roll-back the decision.

SK Nayar, president, Citizen’s Welfare Association, said, “The matter of stilt-plus-four constructions is a major concern for residents of Panchkula, especially for those living in old sectors. Despite our protests and submission of memorandums, different political parties have failed to include the matter in their party manifestos. They have ignored the plight of residents who have incurred losses due to the policy and others who will be affected in future.”