Horticulture waste on roads, dustbins missing in markets: Panchkula woes pile up

Missing dustbins and piling garbage has turned city markets into not only an eyesore but a health risk. City roads are no different as they remained covered with uncollected horticulture waste for days, sometimes weeks.

Residents said the situation reflected a lack of planning and timely intervention by the Municipal Corporation.

The issues are particularly glaring in Sector 6 — the Mayor’s own residential sector — where both green waste and garbage mismanagement woes remain unresolved.

Market visitors said trimmed branches from tree-pruning operations lie unattended for days, causing traffic snarls and increasing the risk of accidents. Speaking on behalf a resident welfare group, Vivek Sood said, “Tree-cutting to protect electricity wires is carried out regularly, yet the horticulture waste team is not informed. Branches remain on roads for days with as few as two rounds being completed to pick up waste. This leads to green waste piling up everywhere.”

Dustbins in Sector 6 markets were allegedly stolen months ago but not replaced despite repeated reminders. “Residents should not have to wait endlessly for even basic facilities. The absence of functional dustbins forces people to discard plastic waste in open areas, worsening sanitation issues,” Sood said.

Notably, dustbins also remain missing in Sector 8, 9 and 10.

Adding further insight, Mohit Gupta, founder of another civil society group Solution Box, emphasised the need for coordination between different departments. “There is no coordination between departments. It seems that the Municipal Corporation is not informed about the pruning and only responds after residents complain. On the other hand, the lack of dustbins stems from inadequate planning by the civic body. Proper assessment, installation and regular cleaning of dustbins are crucial to improving garbage management across city markets,” Gupta said.

The former group added that it had repeatedly submitted representations to both the Panchkula Metropolitan Development Authority (PMDA) and the MC, urging immediate corrective action.

Residents stressed that prompt waste removal, adequate dustbins and stricter sanitation enforcement are critical to restoring cleanliness in Panchkula’s commercial areas.

With civic concerns growing, locals hope authorities will take swift measures, beginning with the Mayor’s own sector.

MC to roll out paid C&D waste pick-up plan

The civic body has rolled out a new system to tackle the growing menace of construction and demolition (C&D) waste piling up across the city. Under the revamped mechanism, residents and builders will now be required to request paid collection of debris, which will then be transported to the designated processing site in Jalouli village.

An external agency is being finalised to handle lifting, transportation and scientific disposal of the waste.

Small generators will be able to book pickups online or through a helpline, while bulk producers such as builders must file separate requests and ensure waste is not left exposed beyond the permitted period.

The corporation will monitor hotspots regularly, and violations — including uncovered vehicles or improper dumping — will attract fines.

Officials said the move aims to streamline disposal, curb illegal dumping and pave the way for recycling, as plans are underway to convert processed debris into usable construction material.

However, environmental activists remain skeptical. Gupta cautioned, “Another example of a misplaced thought process of MC Panchkula of using the collection, transportation and dumping system and with no planning for setting up a processing facility. Ultimately, it will create a mountain of C&D waste at Jalouli and smaller hills across the city.”