JMC playing with health of residents

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 26

The Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) continues to have total disregard for the health of residents as tonnes of solid waste is being allowed to be transported in open trucks during the daytime.

Despite several complaints by people in this regard, no step has been taken by the corporation to stop this practice or change the timing of the lifting of the solid waste which, at times, is the cause of traffic jams at several places in the city.

The manual lifting of the garbage is also posing a threat to the lives of the safai karamcharis who work without the required safety gear such as gloves and rubber boots.

On most city roads, one can see uncovered trucks with heaps of rotten garbage being transported alongside commuters, making it an unpleasant sight. Many times, when people get stuck in traffic jams, rotten garbage can be seen falling off trucks close to motorists.

The MC has a fleet of nearly 250 trucks, mini-trucks and other vehicles allotted to 75 wards of the city. These daily visit their respective areas to collect the solid waste.

“Garbage-picking vehicles are becoming a nuisance for people. Why the cleaning operation of the entire garbage cannot be done during early morning or night hours? It would ensure they could also work without getting disrupted by menacing traffic jams,” said Sunita Sharma, a resident of Talab Tillo.

It is estimated that Jammu generates nearly 500 tonnes of garbage everyday. This is mostly dumped at the Kot Bhalwal dumping site.

Residents of various localities like Shastri Nagar, Nai Basti, Nanak Nagar, Janipur and Talab Tillo are also seeking an end to the burning of waste.

“At times, garbage is being burnt in bins which is emerging as another health issue, especially for those with respiratory problems. This needs to stop and more scientific methods be used for waste disposal,” said Karandeep Singh, a retired government employee who lives in Karan Nagar, Amphalla.

Meanwhile, senior officials in the JMC didn’t respond to repeated calls to get their views on the issue.

No step taken despite complaints

• Despite several complaints by people, no step has been taken by the Jammu Municipal Corporation to change the timing of the lifting of the solid waste which, at times, is the cause of traffic jams at several places in the city
• The manual lifting of the garbage is also posing a threat to the lives of the safai karamcharis who work without the required safety gear such as gloves and rubber boots. The trucks do not cover the garbage