Charanjit Singh Teja
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 14
The Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to install bio-manure processing plants to make organic fertilisers from leaves and plant residue at various gardens of the city under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
MC officials said they had been planning to install such plants at Company Bagh, Chali Khoo Garden, Gol Bagh and Skatari Bagh (Bolaria Memorial Park). The Central Government has sanctioned funds under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan for this project.
Dr Raju Chowan, Municipal Health Officer, said, “We have several herbal trees and plants in gardens. Instead of dumping the plant residue at the garbage dump, we will make the most of it. We will compost plant residue, leaves, grass and other waste material to use the same as green manure in parks. We will dig compost pits for this.”
It is worth mentioning here that a few years ago, the MC had planned to make organic manure for the plants in the garden. The project had started with pomp and show but never completed. The then joint commissioner Surinder Kumar had planned to make bio-manure with plant residue and garbage at Company Bagh. He was promoted as commissioner and transferred from the city. Since then, no one took care of the project.
Two large pits were dug at Company Garden. Now, the employees dump garbage and leaves in those pits. When the pits are full, the residue is burnt. The burning of leaves and garbage has become a routine affair, which irks visitors at the historical garden.
“The project will start soon. It will sustain as the Central Government has sanctioned funds under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,” said an MC employee.