Waste management needs proper infra, awareness : The Tribune India

Join Whatsapp Channel

Open House response

Waste management needs proper infra, awareness

At the outset, the proposal of the MC for collecting garbage in the city is acceptable. Keeping in view the experience of the past few months, it has been observed that the MC needs to streamline one of the most difficult tasks — garbage management.

Waste management needs proper infra, awareness

A door-to-door collector carries away garbage in Chandigarh.



At the outset, the proposal of the MC for collecting garbage in the city is acceptable. Keeping in view the experience of the past few months, it has been observed that the MC needs to streamline one of the most difficult tasks — garbage management. It is not as easy as said. Though in the long run, the MC should make its own arrangement for the collection of garbage, the MC needs to develop infrastructure such as a fleet of vehicles and team of workers sector-wise and it needs to make sure that residents participate positively. The MC has so far miserably failed in keeping its house in order. The civic body does not have proper policy for workers currently engaged in garbage collection. So, while the residents will favour the idea of the MC, it should needs to be implemented properly. So far, Rs 2.5-crore public money has been wasted in the distribution of useless buckets. The segregation of garbage at grassroot level needs to be a habit of all housekeepers. Keeping up with the task will be difficult for the MC as we do not have proper garbage collection facilities in the city. Strict rules, along with willingness to work, are required.

R K Garg, Chandigarh 


A misplaced idea 

The MC’s proposal to collect household garbage on its own is a misplaced idea. It will be a huge work for the MC to tackle on its own. Apparently, the MC has been unable to maintain green belts, streets and market places as garbage can be seen littered at these places. If the  garbage is not lifted timely, the whole city will come to a halt. 

Bharat Bhushan Sharma 


Worthwhile initiative

The Chandigarh MC’s proposal to collect household garbage on its own is a welcome step. The present system of door-to-door garbage collection by private operators is inefficient and dissatisfying due to irregular lifting and for arbitrary increase in the collection charges. Therefore, it will be worthwhile for the MC authorities to undertake door-to-door garbage collection under an organised system at the approved collection rates to prevent residents from being exploited at the hands of private collectors. It will further be desirable to collect garbage in covered mechanised carts rather than in the open manually-hauled carts, which is unhygienic. 

SS Arora, Mohali


MC should rather focus on encroachments

Residents are satisfied with the current system as rates proposed by the MC are three times higher than present rates. A majority of the city residents are senior citizens and presently, the collectors pick garbage themselves from doorstep which is very convenient. Currently, complaints regarding garbage collection can be solved by the RWA and the MC may not be able to attend to such complaints in the wake of other civic issues being faced by the city. The MC should rather focus on increasing encroachments across the city. 

Prakash Dhillon, Chandigarh 


Private contractors trouble residents

The decision of the UT MC to employ its own staff instead of continuing engaging private contractors for garbage collection from houses across the city is being welcomed by one and all. Private garbage collectors had no fear of the MC officials and were working on their own discretion. Garbage collectors keep absent from their duties, causing a lot of inconvenience to the residents. Also, recently, they had gone for a month-long strike after the decision of handing over the garbage collection process to the MC staff was taken by the authorities. This unwarranted strike led to accumulation of heaps of garbage across the city, causing nuisance. Such private contractors should not be given the task of garbage collection and the job must be carried out by professionals only. 

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali


Let the present system continue

The MCC efforts to replace private door-to-door garbage collectors have failed in view of their prolonged agitation/resistance. Making mandatory for the residents to segregate garbage at their level and then hand it over to the garbage collectors is also arbitrary, when the waste collectors are willing to segregate it on their own. The MC should let the existing system of door-to-door waste collection continue and at the most, update the garbage collectors by holding refresher courses in waste management for them. The MCC may however fix charges for garbage collection for each category of houses as one unit or floor-wise so that uniformity is maintained across the city and there is no exploitation of the residents. 

AS Ahuja, Chandigarh 


Will boost cleanliness

The proposal of the Municipal Corporation to introduce the initiative for collecting wet and dry garbage from door to door is definitely appreciable in the public interest and to encourage cleanliness in the city. This organised system would surely help in regular collection of garbage. The Municipal Corporation should charge reasonable rates from the residential and other category of units through water bills or any other mode of payment. City residents should be provided with two big dustbins for free or at affordable price for wet and recyclable garbage. The new garbage collection system will boost cleanliness in the ‘City Beautiful’.

Bhupinder S Sealopal, Mohali 


Outsourcing is better

Private garbage collectors are more efficient and cheaper as compared to their MC counterparts. It may be because they face the risk of losing their job that the private garbage collectors work better than the ones from the MC. The MC collectors barely pay heed to residents’ advice, but the private ones are always humble. Private collectors are regular and sometimes they collect the garbage even on Sunday, whereas the MC collectors used to bunk even on working days. Moreover, the MC does not seem to be in a position to regulate garbage collection throughout Chandigarh because of the dearth of regular garbage collectors and vehicles. So, outsourcing the garbage collection to private collectors seems to be a better option than MC collecting the garbage on its own.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi 


Awareness among residents important

I do not think whether the garbage is collected by the MC staff or by private collectors is going to create any significant improvement. Unless the residents are made aware of segregating the waste in two containers at their own end, nothing will change. The separate dustbins have already been supplied to households in the city. Even if the existing system continues, it can be frequently supervised by the MC staff. Councillors must visit their wards to make sure that there is no garbage littered in the area.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh


Private collectors are a better option

Question arises whether the Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh, will collect garbage from houses for free or at cost. If monthly charges are to be paid, existing private collectors are the best option. Public institutions such as the MC fall flat before private parties when it comes to giving qualitative service. Moreover, complaints against faulty MC workers mean inviting further risk. In all probability, existing system of private garbage collectors may be a viable proposition.

MPS Chadha, Mohali 


Cost optimisation

The proposal of the MC to collect household garbage in the city on its own is a welcome decision. The responsibility will be centralised and will help in optimisation of costs. It will enhance the city's cleanliness, if implemented judiciously.

RAJENDER KUMAR GARG, ZIRAKPUR


Top News

Arvind Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends

Excise policy case: Delhi court extends ED custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till April 1

In his submissions, Kejriwal said, ‘I am named by 4 witnesse...

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to remove Arvind Kejriwal from CM post after arrest

The bench refuses to comment on merits of the issue, saying ...

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

‘Unwarranted, unacceptable’: India on US remarks on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest

MEA spokesperson says India is proud of its independent and ...

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi, backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine public trust in judiciary

Bullying Congress culture, no wonder being rejected: PM Modi

Backs senior lawyers who flagged attempts to undermine publi...

Explainer: Why BJP is flying solo in Punjab and Odisha

Explainer: Why BJP is flying solo in Punjab and Odisha

A multi-cornered contest is always advantageous for BJP; it ...


Cities

View All