Mass movement, not hefty fines, need of the hour

To make sure that residents segregate the waste before handing it to waste collectors, the MC should direct the collectors not to accept unsegregated waste from residents. Collectors should report about those who do not segregate waste to the authorities concerned. The MC should also place blue and green dustbins in markets across the city. 

Balbir Singh Batra, Mohali

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No rocket science

Segregation of dry and wet waste is easily possible in every household. It just needs two buckets of different colours and a little sense of responsibility. Garbage collectors have two bags, one each for dry and wet waste. If residents develop a civic sense, proper garbage disposal can be ensured easily. Citizens should follow a motto: 'Take initiative, do it yourself. Don't keep blaming others.'

Colonel RD Singh (retd), Ambala

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Public-private partnership a way out 

Waste management involves orderly execution of various functions of collection, transport, processing, treatment and its final disposal. Apparently, waste management has become a nightmare for the MC. The onus for solving the problem lies on the authorities as they have the money and power. Simple solution for the management of waste is to guide people about how to do it. If the problem still persists, the violators should be taught a lesson. Small efforts on part of general public can make a big difference. For better implementation of the plan, public-private partnership may also be a way out. 

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

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Engage RWAs 

Residents are a major stake holder in successful waste management. We need to make an extra effort for a better future. Good ground-level training, engaging RWAs, industries, and overhauling of transportation is the key. Timings for collection of dry and wet waste could be differentiated. Penalty without giving alternatives will create more resentment than motivation.

Sarvjeet Singh Virk, Chandigarh

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Lower strata must be trained 

The segregation of waste initiative by the MC is a welcome step. However, its implementation has been quite a problem due to poor campaigning and lack of awareness. The sudden start of the drive has created chaos in some areas. There is a need for making people aware of the benefits of segregation of waste for society, environment and city. Those who are unable to purchase or arrange the green and blue dustbins must be provided with them before they are challaned. The lower strata of society and illiterates must trained in segregation process. 

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd), Mohali 

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Offer sector-wise incentives

The MC has not prepared well for the implementation of the waste segregation plan. The MC should have first created awareness about the merits and demerits of segregation among residents. Besides, RWAs should have been roped, in along with NGOs. It seems that the cash-starved MC is in a hurry to generate much-needed revenue by challaning residents. This plan could have been started on a pilot basis in some sectors initially. Taking the feedback of residents and understanding the problems being faced by them and waste collectors could have been the right way to implement the scheme. The MC can offer incentives to sectors and its residents for successful implementation of the scheme.

Dr Rajeev Kumar, Chandigarh

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Separate day for each waste

Increasing population, industrial and commercial growth has led to the generation of around 350 to 370 MT solid waste each day. Its collection and disposal is a gigantic task for the civic authorities, especially the segregation of dry and wet waste.  Challaning the violator is a right step in the direction, but the authorities should have ensured adequate awareness among public before launching the plan. The MC should also make sustained arrangements for door-to-door collection of garbage through mechanised and covered sanitary vans. Separate collection days can be notified for each type of waste. 

SS Arora, Mohali

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Motor vehicles for collectors

Segregation of household waste at source is need of the hour. The MC has also provided residents with green and blue bins for free. The waste collectors must be provided with motor vehicles to facilitate the disposal of waste instead of outdated cycle rickshaw. The above steps may help the waste processing plant to process even more waste every day. 

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

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Deal with prevailing confusions

All households are not yet prepared to segregate waste at their end. The MC has not made any serious efforts in this regard. Residents and waste collectors are not prepared for lack of knowledge. The MC should start an initiative to educate persons involved in handling of waste at different levels. Households are still confused about several things. Time for waste collection should be fixed and followed strictly.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma 

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Study problems at grassroots 

The Municipal Corporation must have studied the problems at grassroots level before implementing the waste segregation policy. Associations of each sector should have been involved before implementing the scheme. Waste collectors must have sufficient knowledge about the scheme. Challaning the residents at initial level is not a right thing to do. 

TARLOK SINGH, MHC MAN IMAJRA

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Councillors should be involved

The Municipal Corporation has been making continues efforts for the past two years to implement the wet and dry waste segregation scheme. However, residents are apparently not mentally prepared to honour the deliberations of the corporation. This new programme should have sufficient publicity and infuse awakening among residents. The Resident Welfare Associations should come forward and share responsibility of their jurisdiction for introducing the initiative. The councillors of the respective wards should also visit people and requests for contribution to making this movement a success. All open collection yards for solid waste should be shut or properly covered. 

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali 

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Shun fines imposed

Instruct and convince the residents. More awareness drives needed while shunning fines. The MC needs to do its own homework first. Besides making plans and infrastructural provisions, the MC should develop a strategic cleanliness culture among residents. In the initial months, MC's engaged garbage collectors need to cooperate with residents.

MPS Chadha, Mohali

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Give bigger bins

Where there is a will, there is a way. First of all, the MC should try to streamline its system. It should provide better vehicles for lifting garbage with separate compartments for each waste. It should give guidelines to the waste collectors that they should not accept waste from the households if it is unsegregated. It should give better dustbins to householders as bins given to householders are small. It is a moral duty of residents to cooperate with authorities. The Sanitation Department may fine householders for non-segregation of waste. 

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali.

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Share responsibility

Welfare of the city is a joint responsibility of residents and the authorities. The waste should be segregated into three categories - dry, wet and hazardous.

Nakhpreet Kaur, Chandigarh 

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Change in attitude needed

We have to admit that a majority of Indians are not sensitive towards their surroundings. We never bother to keep the place around us neat and clean. A change of mindset is must for implementation of any scheme. The Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, has done its job and now the ball is in our court. We all should cooperate with the MC in keeping our city beautiful. Careless attitude towards cleanliness should be shunned. We must not wait for the MC to be strict by charging fines. Rather, we should be responsible and encourage others too. 

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

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Changing old habits

The Municipal Corporation should hold more awareness drives, for separating dry, wet, plastic, construction and hazardous wastes and what constitutes them. Sadly, all stakeholders are locked in blame games. Changing old habits through sustained awareness and education campaigns through the electronic and print media in urban areas, villages, labour clusters, markets and schools can help solve the problem. Sweepers should mandatorily be educated. The staff concerned needs extensive exposure regarding different types of waste. Mass movement and not hefty fines is the answer. 

Lalit Buardwaj, Panchkula

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Educate masses

Educate the masses about the importance of waste segregation. The MC should first make people aware of what and why of  segregation of waste and advantages. Residents must cooperate with the administration by segregating waste in trash bins. The MC should impart training to the sweepers/ garbage collectors about advantages and disposal of waste segregation. Only by organising awareness camps and educating people, the administration can make this project a success.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

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Create workforce with NGOs

The MC is shrugging off its inefficiency in dealing with waste disposal on people or on private waste collectors. All councillors must be held responsible for waste segregation in their respective wards. The UT Administration must create a workforce of all its employees and allot them their areas of responsibility to ensure proper segregation. The MC must ensure foolproof mechanism for dealing with segregation and disposal of waste of different kinds. The Administration must create a task force with the help of NGOs, social workers, prominent citizens to make the initiative a success. People are taking this lightly and they should be held responsible for violations. 

Capt Amar Jeet Kumar, Mohali 

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Stop collecting dry waste daily

The dry waste, which might include all non-stinking items, such as polythene, aluminium foils, wrappers, paper bags, cardboard, glass viols, can be conveniently stored in some big carton or bin for its disposal every week. Waste collectors can collect it from each household and send it for recycling at their respective destinations.

SC LUTHRA, Chandigarh

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discuss strategy with experts

It has been almost 2 years since the MC has been trying to implement the waste segregation system in Chandigarh. However, it has failed till date. Firstly, it does not have the required infrastructure to implement the policy. Secondly, independent or private waste collectors should be replaced by the ones directly engaged by the MC. Lack of funds may prove to be a major hurdle. The MC should create a strategic plan with help of experts. 

Sikander Singh, Chandigarh

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Less Resources a hindrance

The poor response due to the initiative is because people are unaware about how to segregate the waste and have single dustbin at homes. The civic authorities have limited resources, which is the hindrance. The project should have been started on a pilot basis. 

Avinash Goyal

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Issues on part of collectors

Garbage can be segregated easily in every household, but it should be carried away separately and not mixed by the collectors. We have been keeping dry and wet waste separately for years, but garbage collectors mix it before carrying it away. 

IPS Anand, Mani Majra

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Need to cooperate with civic body

City residents need to cooperate with the MC by segregating wet and dry waste and then handing it over to the garbage collectors. Until people don't change, problem will continue to haunt them. 

RK KAPOOR, CHANDIGARH

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Scheme lacks intelligence

The waste segregation scheme was launched with much fanfare sometime ago, but it lacked sincerity, dedication and honesty. Two bins were given by the MC to residents, but the idea lacked intelligence for simple reason that these containers were without lids. Wet waste containers cannot be kept inside houses because they emanates foul smell. The authorities should have provided containers with lid, especially for the wet waste. If the wet waste is kept outside the house, it invites stray animals.

UJAGAR SINGH, CHANDIGARH

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Penalising violators will bring results

The MC has taken a good initiative, but results are a faraway dream. The October 12 deadline seems to have been announced in haste. Handling of garbage directly by the MC staff will certainly help in better solid waste management. Also, penalising people who don't segregate the wastes will bring fruitful results. Public participation in garbage collection and disposal is a big factor which must be encouraged by authorities. We all must contribute towards achieving the target. The MC should also hold awareness camps in various sectors regularly. 

SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI

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Set up recycling centres

The MC should realise its mistakes in the failure of the segregation drive. Proper planning is required to make the drive a success. Recycling centres should be set up in the city. The wet waste collected should be put in composting pits. The recyclable waste should be recycled. The other waste should be put in landfills instead of making a pile of it in the city. The police and the authorities should do proper planning on how they could manage to fine garbage collectors collect unsegregated waste. A little more awareness is required.

Saikrit Gulati

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QUESTION

The High Court recently ordered to shift registered vendors to the allotted sites while asking the authorities to remove all unregistered ones. The HC also made it clear that the Sector 17 Plaza and Sectors 1 to 6 will remain no-vending zones. Some residents lament shifting of more vendors to a few sectors, which may overburden the area. What do you think are the solutions.