Educate people about importance of cleanliness
To make Ludhiana city clean and green, we should plant more and more trees in our locality, including parks and footpaths. Just planting is not sufficient, but taking care and maintaining these plants is also important. Awareness campaigns and drives should be launched to make public aware of the importance of cleanliness. As responsible citizens of the country, we should not throw garbage on roads. The authorities should install dustbins at all public places such as bus stations, railway stations, gardens, theatres etc. it is the responsibility of the government to provide basic amenities to the citizens of this country. Proper public toilets should be made and they should be maintained regularly. Clean drinking water should be made available for residents at public places. Heavy penalties must be imposed by the government against those who break rules. We are citizens of this nation and we should be proud of that. We should set an example for others with our work by keeping our city clean and green.
Manpriya Kaur
People should grow plants on their rooftops
Lush green areas are a must for the sustenance of life in the upcoming smart city, Ludhiana. The government should encourage people to grow plants on their rooftops. Residents should specifically leave spaces outside their homes for lawns and should develop a pit to dump biodegradable waste of house. Seasonal plants can be kept as a gifting option on the occasion of birthdays or other special occasions. Youth can play an important role in spreading awareness about cleanliness through campaigns, street plays or special drives. Cleanliness and greenery will ensure good health and well being of citizens by providing them with a great opportunity to develop their standard of living.
Tanvi Singh
Take precautions to ensure longevity of saplings
I feel surprised on what basis the Centre selected Ludhiana to make it a smart city. Keeping in mind the current circumstances, no one can say that one day it would be a smart city. Many efforts are being taken to make the city clean and green, but these efforts seem to be declining day by day due to lack of concern among organisations undertaking plantation drives. Stray animals also destroy the saplings planted due to poor protection arrangements. During Vanmahotsava, a large number of saplings of various trees are planted every year, but its survival rate has been very low. Even if the plantation job is done by experts, they don't take precautions for ensuring the longevity of saplings. As far as the cleaning of the city of Ludhiana is concerned, it has turned into one of the dirtiest cities in the country. Over the years, the situation has become worst, unhealthy and filthy. No doubt the authorities concerned are taking many efforts to improve the conditions, but it will take several years to improve. More than 75 per cent areas are bluntly ignored which require attention on priority basis. The authorities have been working to clean specific areas of Ludhiana city to show the Centre to get the requisite funds. The authorities should remove all garbage dumps from roadsides of the city and it should be out of the boundaries of the city. It is also important to remove all kind of encroachments on roadsides in the city. Plantation should be made on all roadsides. All parks and green belts should be maintained properly to keep the city clean and green. Graffiti should be maintained regularly. There should be proper drainage system to prevent accumulation of water on roads. Choked sewers should be cleaned on regular basis. If all these are done on priority basis, we can claim the city as clean and green.
Kuldip Singh Kreer
Create vertical gardens in the city
Ludhiana is a growing and developing city, and is expanding in all directions. To make space for new housing projects and other development projects, the green cover of the city is being cut down regularly. To keep the city green, residents should be told to keep some green area in front of their houses. We can also work on creating vertical gardens in the city, just like our railway station. Malls and offices can also have these vertical gardens which will not only improve the work environment, but also help in restoring the greenery of the city.
Sanjana Vij
Educate public to keep city clean and green
Ludhiana is an industrial hub and is one of the highly populated cities of Punjab. It is also called "The Manchester of India" for its production of hosiery products. However, our proposed smart city has slipped to the 140th rank in the Swachh Sarvekshan-2017 and it is a matter of concern for citizens, Municipal Corporation as well as other departments. The public must be educated to keep the city clean and green. There should be dustbins on both sides of roads. The Municipal Corporation should prepare effective guidelines and must impose heavy penalties on those people who break the rules. People should be motivated to plant more and more trees to make the city green. The Punjab Government has also launched 'i-Hariyali' mobile app under the Mission Tandarust Punjab aimed at increasing the state's green cover. Users can book a sapling of their choice, a maximum of 25 per person from a nearby government nursery. This information also needs to be passed on to students in schools and colleges.
Kamaldeep Kaur
Axing less and planting more should be our motto
Clean and green city always looks beautiful. It is the responsibility of the state government, the Municipal Corporation, GLADA and other similar agencies involved to keep the city beautiful. Besides, active participation of residents is needed to keep the neat and clean. Cleanliness begins from home. If we just keep our locality clean, adjoining areas will automatically become neat and clean. People tend to keep their homes clean and throw and disperse garbage somewhere unchecked. Proper disposal of garbage is a must to maintain cleanliness. At public places, especially in gardens and parks, littering should be avoided. Littering at public places and dispersing of garbage hazardously should be declared as a punitive offence and fine should be imposed on anyone found doing so. If you find anyone littering or throwing garbage in irresponsible manner, dispose it off for him properly, in his very presence. This will be a lesson for him for the next time. Safai karamcharis should take the job as a moral and pious duty. It has been observed that in the name of safai, they just pick fluffy material such as paper refuge and polythene bags etc., and least bothered to collect the dirt lying on roadsides. This forms a layer of soil and keeps flying in the air, polluting the atmosphere. Cleanliness should be taken as a continuous and regular feature and not only as a campaign during cleanliness week. Greenery is diminishing as a large number of trees are being axed on the name of development. Saplings are planted during Vanmahotsava only as a customary formality, but no one bothers to take care of them afterwards. More trees are cut and trimmed than planted. Moreover, a sapling planted today will turn into a tree only after a decade. Axing less and planting more should be our motto and the people should join it as a campaign.
SK Mittal
Car-free days can help reduce pollution levels
A battle against pollution can only be won if we consider it as a responsibility towards our nation. Our objective should be "I shall not litter, and won't allow anyone to do so." The garbage of the city should be collected at one place for decomposition. Out of 1.42 lakh tonnes of garbage generated in urban regions every day, only 15 per cent is being processed. Insanitary toilets and inadequate waste management continue to be a glaring reality. Clad in green t-shirts, holding placards and raising slogans of environment protection are some ways to sensitise the masses to the cause, but if some concrete steps are not taken, these efforts will not bear any results. We should observe car-free days at least once a week to reduce pollution levels and traffic congestion in the city. Planting saplings is a major step towards green earth. Lines written by famous Punjabi poet Shiv Kumar Batalvi "Kuch rukh lagde putt mainu, kuch lagde maavan, kuch dheeyan puttan warge, kuch wang bharaawan", which means that trees are having a symbolic human relationship with everyone. Meticulous planning by the government, civic authorities and local residents can surely make Clean India, Green India a reality.
Dr Jasdeep Kaur
Launch go-green initiative, Hara Bhara Ludhiana
Ludhiana city is declared as the most polluted city in Punjab. Though it is also considered as the leading smart city, no efforts have been made to reduce the pollution levels in the city. To connect with citizens and make Ludhiana clean and green, the authorities should launch a unique go-green initiative, "Hara Bhara Ludhiana". In addition to planting trees in the area, blue and green dustbins should also be installed to promote cleanliness and waste segregation at source. We can see so many boards and hoardings with the message "City clean and green" around us. But we should sit back and give it a thought, are we really following this moto?
Manpreet Kaur
Civic body should start anti-litterbug campaign
Urban cleanliness has always remained a major problem in the industrial city because of the ever increasing problem of littering in the city. Lack of cleanliness in the city is often blamed on the local authority. Lack of effective policies and enforcement are the main reasons for rampant littering, which in turn contributes to lack of cleanliness. The authorities even fail to develop strategies to make enforcement easy. The authorities concerned fail to understand that some form of intervention is necessary to stop this rampant littering. It's true that the civic agencies are responsible for taking care of our society, but people also must understand that they also have some responsibility towards society and environment. Living in the society, being a part of the environment, we too have a moral responsibility to contribute to the environment we are breathing in. One must know that cleanliness is also regarded as a sign of spiritual growth and purity. It is a good habit to keep our surroundings and ourselves clean and tidy. In a nutshell, cleanliness is a fundamental responsibility of each and every citizen. No matter how much we blame the government, at the end, it is us, we the people of India, who will suffer. So let's take a pledge not to litter anywhere because a change in the behaviour always produces results. In order to make Ludhiana clean and green, need is there to change the behaviour of uneducated people. The MC should start anti-litterbugs campaign, which is a potentially viable strategy to address the issue.
RAVI CHANDER GARG
People cutting trees should be punished
It is said that nature maintains an ecological balance. If all living creature dies, the land will be green in four to five years, and if all plants and trees dies, all creature will distinct in three years. So it is the duty of humans to keep on maintaining that balance. More and more trees are being axed every year, but the same number of trees are not being planted. Let's do something in this regard for a better and prosperous future by putting our efforts together to make our city greener. One person should plant one tree each year and he/she should also make sure to look after it for at least 7 to 20 years. The government should reserve some funds in the budget for plantation of tree. No connection of water or sewerage should be given to those who have not planted any tree. On both sides of roads, trees with same nature or type should be planted to give an attractive look. Those trees should be planted which require less water. Maximum number of trees should be planted in June end or before the start of monsoon. Fine must be imposed on anyone who cut or axe trees without the prior permission of the local authorities. Let's come together and join hand for a better tomorrow by planting more trees.
Farzana Khan
One family, one tree norm should be mandatory
We are passing through the stage where things are changing very fast along with the ever-increasing size of population. Urbanisation is increasing and the green belt is depleting very fast. This is one of the main causes of rising temperature every year and shortage of water. If it continues like this, the day will not be far when land will turn into a concrete jungle. The responsibility lies on our shoulders to avoid turning it into this situation. We know that in family head decides, how much is reserved for grocery, education, clothes etc. Similarly, the state government and the Centre decide how much fund should be allocated to each sector. If the government can decide to make Aadhaar card mandatory, it can also make planting one tree mandatory. Not only Ludhiana, but all states can be made green by following some important steps. One family one tree (OFOT) norm should be made mandatory. This means each family should plant and nurture one tree, failing which some facilities may be withdrawn. Tree plantation week should be celebrated in each ward under each MC zone. Each area with maximum number of trees should be honoured by giving some facilities to its residents in the form of parks, parking facilities, watchman etc. At district and state-level Vanmahotsava be celebrated annually. In schools and colleges, students should be motivated to plant trees. On both sides of roads, more and more trees should be planted. The district administration should provide saplings free of cost to residents. Chapters on the importance of trees should be included in the school curriculum. By adopting such steps, we can think of better future and better life for the coming generations.
Dr Mohd Saleem
Waste management should be effective at home
As citizens of Ludhiana, we have some responsibility towards the cleanliness of the city. In order to keep the city clean and green, we can contribute a lot. Waste management should be effective at home as well as in the city. We should not throw garbage here and there on roads. Instead, we can use this garbage for a fruitful purpose. Garbage containing leftover food, after processing, can be used as a fertilizer for growing plants and vegetables. We can use garbage for greenery purpose which further helps in keep the city clean and green. Moreover, safai karamcharis should realise their duties. Spaces under the flyovers are highly misused with people using it for parking vehicles, throwing garbage or in some cases these spaces even become toilets for people who urinate in the open. Spaces under the flyovers should be cleaned and beautified by planting trees and plants. The MC should make parks under flyovers and must appoint gardeners to look after these. Dustbins should be kept at maintainable distance on roads and we should make full use of them and educate others.
Ritu Priya
Habit of cleanliness should be inculcated from childhood
It is rightly said, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." It means that God himself resides where there is cleanliness. But the condition of cleanliness is really pitiable in Ludhiana. Garbage heaps, choked sewerages and leaking water pipes are a common sight in the city. It is high time that we should get together to make the city clean and green. Keeping the city clean and green is not only the duty of the MC and its employees. We as responsible citizens should also come forward for this noble cause. Prominent NGOs should organise cleanliness drives every Sunday in differ
