Location of waste dumping points in town an irritant

The government has launched numerous cleanliness drives to improve hygiene and waste management here. However, some minor issues have been overlooked by the authorities, leading to long-term problems.

'Purpose defeated'

"Dumping points in busy areas where hundreds of people pass daily defeats the purpose of keeping the town clean. These should be relocated to areas outside the town to curb pollution in populated areas. Waste collection trucks should directly dispose of the garbage at the designated landfill sites or the nearby waste processing plant in Bakrianwali." - Ramesh Goyal, environmental expert

The Municipal Council (MC) has claimed to have run cleanliness campaigns, but a major concern is the location of waste dumping points. These points, meant for residents to dispose of household waste, have been placed in the heart of the town, raising questions about their placement.

These points, set up near key locations like the bus stand, have become a major source of pollution. Passengers at the bus stand are regularly exposed to the foul smell of garbage. The waste not only creates an unpleasant odour but also attracts flies, mosquitoes and other pests, increasing the risk of diseases.

A shopkeeper Pawan Gaba says open garbage is a major health hazard, inviting pests that carry diseases. He adds that the foul air around these points can weaken people's immunity and lead to various illnesses.

The problem is worsened by stray animals that roam here and spread garbage from these points all over the area. While the MC does collect the garbage every morning, the dumping points remain filled throughout the day as people continue to discard waste there. This cycle of continuous pollution is causing concern among citizens.

Environmental expert Ramesh Goyal believes that the cleanliness drive should be taken seriously and the authorities need to reconsider the location of these dumping points. He argues that placing these in busy areas where hundreds of people pass daily defeats the purpose of keeping the town clean. He suggests relocating these points to areas outside the city to prevent the spread of pollution in populated areas. Goyal also proposes that the waste collection trucks should directly dispose of the garbage at the designated landfill sites or the nearby waste processing plant in Bakrianwali.

Goyal further suggested that if the dumping points could be removed quickly, gates should be installed in front of these, similar to those in Delhi to prevent garbage and bad odour from spreading in the open.

District Municipal Commissioner Surender Beniwal said these were secondary dumping points where garbage from the entire city was collected and then sent to the main plant in Bakrianwali by vehicles. Most of the time, these points are kept clean. Beniwal mentioned that these dumping points are covered on three sides, and if a gate can be installed on the front, they will study the possibility and, if feasible, the gates will be installed soon.