Missing steel dustbins: MCB fails to get FIR registered

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 18

Despite two reminders by Mayor Balwant Rai Nath, MCB officials have failed to get an FIR registered for the missing stainless steel dustbins in the city.

The MCB recently had installed 180 stainless steel dustbins at various locations, which cost around Rs 24 lakh.

It purchased each pair of dustbins at a cost of Rs 13,124 and spent Rs 800 as installation charges for each pair.

Most of the dustbins have been damaged and at many places, they are missing. It seems to be the handiwork of thieves.

Earlier, the MCB had even installed plastic dustbins, but these were either broken or set afire by anti-social elements.

Residents have also been raising questions over the dustbins purchased by the MCB at high rates.

Sukhjeet Singh, a city resident, said not getting an FIR registered clearly indicated that there was something wrong, which should be probed.

Prof NK Gosain, another city resident, said on the one hand, the MCB was putting pressure on the public by imposing new taxes and on the other, it was lavishly spending the public money.

Congress councillor Jugraj Singh, demanding a probe into the purchase of the dustbins, claimed that it was not at all justified to buy such expensive dustbins.

He claimed that the MCB should get an FIR registered for the missing dustbins and if they had not done it yet then it’s a lapse on their part.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath said it was sad that people had stolen and damaged stainless steel dustbins at many places in the city.

He said he would again ask the officials today to lodge a complaint and get an FIR registered.