Insanitation, encroachments ruffle Rohtak residents

Insanitary conditions prevail in most parts of Rohtak city, with heaps of garbage along roads and streets becoming a common sight. Several pockets of posh colonies and Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) sectors are in the grip of gross insanitation, while the condition of the old town localities is even worse.

“People keep on dumping garbage at certain points almost round the clock, while sanitation workers collect and take it away only once or twice a day. Moreover, people dump waste on the ground due to unavailability of dustbins, which presents an ugly picture. Stray cattle and dogs rummaging garbage for food worsens the scenario,” laments Kulvir Singh, a resident of Sector 2, Rohtak.

Amit Sharma, a resident of Suncity Township, maintains that apart from the authorities concerned, residents who dump garbage anytime and anywhere were also responsible for the prevailing situation.

“Residents should realise their responsibility and dump domestic waste at designated places in a proper manner so that it does not cause inconvenience to the people as well as sanitation workers,” he said.

Apart from insanitation, rampant encroachments also cause grave inconvenience to residents. Shopkeepers often keep their goods and boards in front of their shops, causing inconvenience to residents and commuters.

Residents also encroach upon roads and streets by constructing ramps and parking their vehicles, leaving limited space for the movement of vehicles.

Sanitation campaigns and anti-encroachment drives are run by the local municipal authorities from time to time, but these provide only short-term relief to residents.

Contacted for comments on the issues, Rohtak Municipal Corporation Commissioner Anand Kumar Sharma asserted that an anti-encroachment drive had been launched and residents were also being challaned for littering.

Questioned about the short-term effect of such campaigns, Sharma said they would continue the drive for a longer time and also run an awareness campaign to make residents aware of their responsibilities and valuable contribution in maintenance of cleanliness and order in the city.

“Certain garbage-dumping spots need immediate attention. This matter is being looked into. We have also taken up shortage of sanitation workers with the authorities concerned. Those workers, who do good work, will be honoured to keep them motivated,” he said.