Despite spending Rs 100 cr, Faridabad struggles with poor waste management
Tribune News Service
Faridabad, September 2
Faridabad’s performance in the national cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan, is unlikely to improve this year as the civic conditions in major parts of the city continue to remain poor.
Despite the Faridabad Municipal Corporation (MCF) spending a budget of over Rs 100 crore in the past four years on sanitation, the situation on ground is yet to register a marked change, according to reports. The civic conditions remain pathetic as the work for the collection and disposal of the civic waste in the city is in a disarray, following the problems connected with the proper planning and execution of any proper strategy, according to sources.
“While two contracts for the disposal of waste from the transfer stations to the landfill site or processing stations have been in operation, the civic body is yet to start the door-to-door collection of waste. The city is likely to remain at an ebb again this year as heaps of garbage and waste dumped on sides of roads or in the open have become quite common,” claimed Vishnu Goel, a social activist.
“The complaints disposal on the MCF-311 app released for attending civic grievances or the manual system has also been poor,” said Varun Sheokand, a resident. Faridabad was ranked 381 among the 446 cities surveyed in 2023.
Though the city needs an average annual budget of up to Rs 30 crore for sanitation, the funds spent have been between Rs 100 crore and Rs 125 crore since 2020, according to the sources. This may be in addition to the budget of several crores received under the Swachh Bharat Mission, a flagship programme of the Union Government, it was added.
As the budget goes up by 10 per cent each year in the wake of the expansion of the scope of the work, an average of Rs 3-4 crore is required for the stages of door-to-door collection and the removal of the waste further, an official said. Though the disposal from the transfer stations has been allotted to contractors, the door-to-door collection has been mainly dependent on individuals.
The state government had recently directed the authorities concerned to release new tenders under which the user charges (fee) from residents were to be collected by the MCF. It also stated the release of payments to agencies engaged for the work by the civic body. It was advised to include the waste collection charges in the property tax. The move to establish waste processing plants is yet to get fully functional, keeping in view the protests by residents and other hurdles. A majority of the 900 tonnes of waste is dumped at the Bandhwari landfill site, it was added.
Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF, said while the door-to-door waste collection would be resumed shortly, the drive to ensure proper cleanliness and sanitation was on.
No door-to-door collection yet
While two contracts for the disposal of waste from the transfer stations to the landfill site or processing stations have been in operation, the civic body is yet to start the door-to-door collection of waste. The city is likely to remain at an ebb again this year as heaps of garbage and waste dumped on sides of roads or in the open have become quite common. — Vishnu Goel, A social activist
