P’kula Commissioner, MLAs visit Hyderabad for study tour

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 20

A 10-member Panchkula Municipal Corporation panel, including MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal, Panchkula MLA Gian Chand Gupta and four representatives of RWAs of trans-Ghaggar sectors, on Friday went to Hyderabad for a study tour in connection with solid waste management.

Kalka MLA Latika Sharma will join the panel tomorrow.

Panchkula MC Commissioner Rajesh Jogpal said as the Haryana Government would set up a solid waste management plant at Jhuriwala village in Panchkula, therefore the officials, RWA representatives and MLAs have come to Hyderabad to study functioning of such waste processing plants. The four members of the RWAs were made part of the tour as the plant will close in their sectors and the government want them to clear their misconceptions, he added.

At present, two firms have come forward for setting up the plant in Panchkula.

The tender was floated by the state government and the proposed site was identified in Jhuriwala. At present, the city’s garbage is being dumped at the dumping ground in Sector 23, which has made the life hell of residents of Sectors 23 to 27. The site is located at Jhuriwala village and is owned by the Panchkula MC.

Only technical experts should have gone: Mayor

Panchkula Mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia, who did not go on this study tour, said only technical experts should have gone on this tour. “As I was not a technical expert, therefore, I opted out,” the Mayor said.

Fact file

In November 2015, the NGT had taken a note of the situation and directed the HUDA and the PCB to ensure compliance of laws governing the management of landfill sites. However, the waste is not being duly covered as per to rules, complain residents. The MC, which maintains the site, has also not been able to ensure compliance of the guidelines.