Residents suffer as vacant plots turn garbage dumps

Ravi Chandel

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 20

Notwithstanding the Municipal Corporation (MC) order to construct a boundary wall around vacant plots in the city, most vacant plots have been converted into a garbage dump and have become a nuisance for those residing near them.

It is pertinent to mention here that last year the MC had made it mandatory for all vacant plot owners to construct a boundary wall around their plot, otherwise strict action will be initiated against them under Sections 323 and 324 of the MC Act and under which they will have to pay a penalty of Rs 500 to Rs 2,000.

Interestingly, since the regularisation of this order the MC has only issued 300 challans to the violators under Section 323 of the MC Act.

According to sources, the MC has not been able to identify owners of the vacant plots, which have been converted into garbage dumps. Besides, the vacant plots which are disputed (over ownership) the MC did not ensure any action against them. As a result, the illegal practice of dumping garbage in vacant plots continues unabatedly.

Maheshwar Sharma, a resident of Ganesh Nagar, said, “However, it is a very good step initiative by the MC authorities concerned, but they miserably failed to execute the order in the entire city. One can easily spot a number of vacant plots in the city which have been converted into garbage dumping zone.”

He further said in their residential area a vacant plot located near the GT road had become a nuisance for people residing near the plot, but despite several complaints to MC officials nothing has been done so far.

Kulwinder Singh, a resident of Basant Vihar, said, “The MC has to take strict action against the violators and make a law for the disputed vacant plots so that people residing near vacant plots heave a sigh of relief from the foul smell emanating from the plots and increasing the possibilities of vector-borne diseases.”

When contacted, Chief Sanitary Inspector Satish Kumar confirmed that they were not able to find the address of vacant plot owners due to lack of cooperation between the departments.

However, they were issuing challans to those throwing garbage in an open area, he added.