State’s first garbage-free locality comes up in city

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 14

A residential society in Patiala has managed to keep the surroundings clean and dispose of the household waste in an environment-friendly way. 

With the roll out of the Swachh Survekshan-2018, people of Maharaja Yadvindra Enclave have played their part in the country’s transformation.

A society comprising 190 houses, situated on the Nabha road, has become the first garbage-free locality in the state. Municipal Corporation (MC) Executive Engineer (XEN) Dalip Singh said: “The area has become the first garbage-free locality in the state.” All families residing in the locality segregate their household waste in three different categories and use it to make organic compost on a land provided by the Improvement Trust. The Municipal Corporation (MC) has provided funds to set up the project, along with carriages to transport the waste.

The categories of waste include wet waste, dry recyclable waste and the third being diapers and napkins. The wet waste constitutes green, food and paper waste — dumped into the pit for decomposition. The recyclable waste, including plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and plastic, are sold off in the market while a private company carries away napkins and diapers.

Three pits made for this purpose can accommodate about 4.5 tonne waste, added at intervals. The locality accumulates on average 1.25 quintal wet waste, 50-60 kg dry waste every day. A decomposer consisting jiggery, water and cow dung is added to speed up the decomposition process which takes 45 days to be completed. The compost can then be used in gardens and parks, while the remnants are sent off to a private company.

In a bid to improve the city’s ranking in the Swachh Survekshan 2018, the Government Medical College and Government Bikram College of Commerce will also make compost pits. The MC has decided to instal underground dustbins at 25 places to collect waste in the city. Patiala ranked 411 in the Swachh Survekshan 2017 which was conducted across 434 towns and cities in the country.

Showing the way 

Maharaja Yadvindra Enclave,  a society comprising 190 houses, situated on the Nabha road, has become the first garbage-free locality in the state. All families residing in the locality segregate their household waste in three different categories and use it to make organic compost on a land provided by the Improvement Trust. The MC has provided funds to set up the project, along with carriages to transport the waste.  

Focus on sanitation

In a bid to improve the city’s ranking in the Swachh Survekshan-2018, the Government Medical College and Government Bikram College of Commerce will also make compost pits. The MC has decided to instal underground dustbins at 25 places. Patiala ranked 411 in the Swachh Survekshan 2017 which was conducted across 434 towns and cities in the country.