Garbage, stray cattle cast a shadow on Maghi charm

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 14

Despite knowing that a large number of people come to this historic town on Maghi, the district administration virtually failed to remove garbage and stray cattle from city roads.

A number of meetings were held to review the arrangements for Maghi Mela in the recent past.

While travelling on the Malout road, which also leads to the historic Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, a number of stray cattle were found along the roadside and garbage was lying scattered. Devotees were seen scared of the presence of a large number of stray animals.

Harjeet Singh, a devotee who had come from Malout, said, “The administration may have made huge arrangements for the convenience of the public, but the entrance to the town is still presenting a dirty look. A number of stray cattle are present and garbage strewn. It seems the Municipal Council authorities have not performed their duty diligently.”

Similarly, Subhash Kumar, a devotee from Dabwali, said, “This is an annual event and devotees come in large numbers. The mela will last for some more days. The administration must now focus on cleanliness.”

On the other hand, an officer, pleading anonymity, said the orders were given to officials of the Municipal Council to ask the ‘langar’ organisers to avoid use of disposable plastic items such as plates and spoons. “Further, it was asked to lift garbage immediately from ‘langar’ venues.”

Illegal hoardings dot city roads

A number of illegal hoardings, a majority of them of political parties, welcoming people to the town on the occasion of Maghi, have come up in the town. These hoardings have not spared public properties such as bus stand and electricity poles.