Civic body to take over sanitation in AIT-developed localities

The Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) will now take over sanitation work in localities developed by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT). Earlier, the Improvement Trust had been getting cleanliness work carried out in its colonies developed under various schemes through private contractors.

The decision was taken during a recently held meeting in Chandigarh. Following this, the municipal corporation will be responsible for sanitation in around 10 Improvement Trust localities, including Ranjit Avenue, Jahazgarh, New Amritsar, Kabir Park and other areas.

Amritsar Improvement Trust Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu has written to the MC Commissioner in this regard. In his letter, he stated that the Trust had been managing sanitation in its schemes through a contractual system. However, after the expiry of the sanitation tender, these areas have now been formally handed over to the municipal corporation. He has also requested that sanitation workers engaged under the contractual system be adjusted by the MC to ensure uninterrupted cleanliness services.

It is worth mentioning that the sanitation contract issued by the Improvement Trust expired on December 5. After the end of the contract period, several Trust localities witnessed the accumulation of garbage. Even parking areas in posh localities such as Ranjit Avenue C Block Market were found littered with heaps of waste, causing inconvenience to residents.

The Amritsar Improvement Trust was spending nearly Rs 25 lakh every month on sanitation. The last contract, awarded in 2024, ended on December 5. Due to the delay in making a new arrangement, residents faced serious problems as garbage remained unattended at many locations.

Residents had also complained that sanitation staff dumped waste at random locations, leading to the creation of new garbage dumping points across the city. With the new arrangement, this issue is expected to be resolved.

Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu said that the responsibility of garbage collection will now rest with a single agency, which will eliminate confusion and blame-shifting between departments. He added that the Improvement Trust has jurisdiction over only about two per cent of the city area.