Burning of garbage continues across Amritsar despite warnings

Despite strict warnings issued by the district administration against burning of garbage, the practice continues unabated across various parts of the city. Owing to irregular lifting of garbage, residents have been dumping waste on vacant plots and along roadside edges, where it is often set on fire. This morning, a heap of garbage lying in a vacant plot along Batala Road caught fire, causing heavy inconvenience to commuters. Dense smoke drifted across the BRTS overbridge and the adjoining road, forcing passersby to slow down and cover their faces amid smoke and visibility problems.

On the other hand, the state government has claimed that strong action has been initiated against the burning of municipal solid waste in the open, as part of efforts to protect the environment and improve air quality. A high-level review meeting was recently held under the supervision of the Senior Environmental Engineer, Zonal Office-1 of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). Following the decisions taken in the meeting, the Regional Office, Amritsar, conducted special awareness and sensitisation programmes on December 3 in Nagar Panchayat, Rajasansi, and Nagar Panchayat, Ajnala, to ensure a complete ban on garbage burning.

During these programmes, Assistant Environmental Engineer Sukhmani Singh interacted directly with sanitation workers and briefed them about the serious environmental and health hazards caused by burning waste. The workers were urged to follow the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 by ensuring waste segregation at source, regular door-to-door collection and scientific disposal. In Nagar Panchayat Ajnala, the session was attended by a Sanitation Superintendent, a Community Facilitator, two Community Motivators and 30 sanitation workers. In Rajasansi, the programme saw the participation of a Sanitation Superintendent, a Community Facilitator, two Community Motivators and 35 sanitation workers. All participants collectively pledged not to tolerate or engage in garbage burning under any circumstances.

Sanitation officials from both towns assured full cooperation and strict compliance with the issued guidelines. The Punjab Pollution Control Board reiterated that continuous monitoring and stringent enforcement will remain in place to safeguard public health and ensure clean air for local residents.