Garbage helpline fails to elicit desired response in Zirakpur

Satinder Pal Singh

Advertisement

Zirakpur, August 29

The solid waste management, a crucial aspect of the Smart City project, seems to be a distant dream in Zirakpur. The sight of garbage strewn along roadsides and even near dustbins in the town is disturbingly ubiquitous.

Shopkeepers on the VIP road continue to suffer as waste is disposed near their establishments. The apathy of the authorities concerned can be gauged from the fact that garbage almost spills onto the road thus putting health of nearby residents and commuters in jeopardy.

In order to tackle the menace of garbage disposal in Zirakpur, a WhatsApp helpline was launched by Deepinder Singh Dhillon, PPCC general secretary, on August 4 to provide an immediate and effective solution of cleaning the city. But with little work being done to redress garbage-related issues, the situation has become embarrassing for the authorities concerned as they do not seem to have adapted to the new task.

Shopkeepers on VIP Road alleged that sanitary workers did not collect garbage, which piled up on the roadside. They were left with no other option, but to dispose of the trash in the open.

“Stink in the area continues to be a problem. Despite tall claims, the MC has failed to remove waste. Foul smell emanates from the area whenever it rains,” said a shopkeeper.

A local resident, who had lodged a complaint at the helpline No. 9915479127, said: “I have sent the photographs of garbage strewn on the roadside at the helpline and requested the authorities concerned to get it removed. I was given an assurance that the work will be done. But nothing happened at the ground level for several days.”

Nobody from the authorities concerned bothered to come to the spot and lift the garbage for several days, he alleged.

Meanwhile, residents rued that the Municipal Council (MC) should look into such practical issues to ensure that residents did not face harassment.

When contacted, Rajinder Singh, chief sanitary inspector, MC, Zirakpur, said: “We are getting most complaints online, which are being redressed on a priority basis.”

When asked about the delay in the lifting of garbage at some places even after sending pictures and location on the helpline number, Rajinder said they might not have received the compliant else it would have been redressed at the earliest.

Health of residents, commuters at risk

Shopkeepers on the VIP road continue to suffer as waste is disposed near their establishments. The apathy of the authorities concerned can be gauged from the fact that garbage almost spills onto the road thus putting the health of nearby residents and commuters in jeopardy.

 WhatsApp helpline launched on Aug 4

In order to tackle the menace of garbage disposal in Zirakpur, a WhatsApp helpline was launched by Deepinder Singh Dhillon, PPCC general secretary, on August 4 to provide an immediate and effective solution to clean the city. But with little work being done to redress garbage-related issues, the situation has become embarrassing for the authorities concerned as they do not seem to have adapted to the new task.