Dustbins installed by MC found missing or damaged

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 9

Three years ago under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the Municipal Corporation (MC) had installed 450 dustbins, with an expenditure of Rs 55 lakh, at various locations of the city, however these expensive dustbins are either missing or have been damaged at many spots.

The small bins were installed for the disposal of garbage in and around city areas. But due to lack of maintenance, open garbage dumping still exists in many places. Garbage is seen strewn on roads at various points. MC official Varinder Kumar Rattan, while showing a list of areas where these dustbins were installed, claimed that these were still available. Whereas when the correspondent visited these places, the dustbins were found missing at various points. Of the five locations near Shastri Chowk, only a dustbin was spotted near the Bridge Steno shop. Contrary to the MC claims, an owner of a tyre shop, near a SBI ATM said, he had never seen any dustbin at the spot, instead people were throwing the trash openly. Dustbins were found only at five of the 30 places visited by the correspondent.

A shopkeeper near Sekhon Grand hotel said though a dustbin was installed in front of the hotel, it was stolen within months. There were many other locations as well from where these were stolen.

Meanwhile, residents have also been raising questions over the high prices at which the dustbins were purchased by the MC. The dustbins were of small size as garbage could always be found scattered near them, said Vijay Kumar at Namdev Chowk. Dustbins placed haphazardly at several spots have been damaged by stray cattle. A vendor near the BMC chowk said these bins were of small size due to which it used to get filled fast. Also, garbage lifting was not conducted on a regular basis.

MC Commissioner Diprava Lakra, however said, now under the new roadmap, no new bins would be installed and if placed, local residents would be held responsible for any damages to them. Whereas Health Officer Krishan Kumar said proposals to install huge dustbins had been submitted to the government.