Waste mgmt: Muktsar takes cue from Chhattisgarh town

Archit Watts

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Tribune News Service

Muktsar, September 12

Inspired by the waste management model of Ambikapur town in Chhattisgarh, the Muktsar district administration has engaged Vellore-based C Srinivasan, project director of Indian Green Service, to make its Municipal Council towns - Muktsar, Malout, Gidderbaha and the Bariwala Nagar Panchayat – garbage-free.

Srinivasan also appeared in actor Aamir Khan’s TV show Satyamev Jayate.

Under the Swachh Bharat Mission, Srinivasan, a consultant of the Solid Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) project, has been holding seminars and imparting training on garbage management to convert it into resources.

Dr Richa, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Muktsar, said, “The aim is to make these towns free from garbage. Srinivasan is here for nearly 10 days to motivate people. Under the first phase, this project will be launched in one municipal ward each of all these towns. Self-help groups are being formed. They will get nominal monthly wages from households to lift garbage, segregate it and sell to the scrap dealers at a common place. By doing this, these groups will earn money. If someone scatters garbage, he/she will have to pay penalty.”

“This project will be carried out by the self-help groups, but the municipal council authorities will supervise it. Presently, we will need 20-30 people in each municipal ward and at least five rickshaws. Besides, some dustbins, gloves, caps and tubs will be required. Some local NGOs have assured us help for the purpose. We will also utilise the money under the Swachh Bharat Mission. If Ambikapur can implement a cost-effective way to get rid of its waste and generate jobs, why can’t we do the same here. The pilot project will start from October 2,” the ADC said.

She added that earlier in the state, this model was adopted at the Amritsar Army Cantonment. It was the first Army cantonment in the country to adopt SLRM, for which it received the Raksha Mantri Award for excellence under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Meanwhile, Muktsar Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar too has started process to shift the stray cattle to cattle pounds. “Parallel efforts are afoot to make roads free from stray cattle. We are holding meetings with the caretakers of cow shelters and cattle pounds in the district. The process of shifting the cattle will begin soon,” DC added.