SDM now takes to painting graffiti at garbage dumping points

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, September 25

After her novel initiative of naming the streets after girl icons from the town, Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) Amrit Singh is now experimenting with another initiative in Nakodar. While the earlier one pertained to the Centre’s scheme of ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’, this one relates to another flagship scheme of the the Central Government— Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

The SDM, in collaboration with the MC, has identified landmark points which have turned to be an eyesore owing to the dumping of garbage. These include public places with a heavy footfall including post office, hospitals, schools and other educational institutes. “The biggest nuisance was a garbage dumping point outside the post office which had been a problem for 40 years. I had received pleas to get it cleared, including a DO letter from the post office staff too,” said the officer.

“Taking it up at the first go, we got the dump removed. The walls around were painted and some graffiti was done for beautification. Then we thought that it could again receive filth and that we need to do something to ensure there is no garbage dump again. So, we got benches fixed for the people to come, sit, relax and chat for a while and feel good,” she said, adding that the whole idea was not to impose anything on the people by way of levying penalty or punishment but to change the thinking of the masses.

Aditya Bhatara, president, Nakodar MC, said, “It was a daunting task convincing people not to throw waste at this point. It took us a few weeks to ensure that the area is thoroughly clean. The sanitation wing of the MC spent hours at this site. Even our MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala had to be called one day to make an appeal, but it finally worked. It now feels good when people have a good time here every morning and evening. Since it is located on the main road, it has changed the entire look of the town.” The SDM said she has now begun selecting other locations in her sub-division, including a community centre at Mehatpur and Mata ka Mandir near Haripur.