Stopgap plan falls short, garbage spills onto Rohtak roads

The Rohtak Municipal Corporation (RMC) has made temporary arrangements for door-to-door garbage collection and lifting of waste from dumping points across the city until a permanent solution is in place. However, the efforts appear to be falling short, as heaps of garbage continue to pile up along roads and on the outskirts of residential colonies.

During a visit to the city on Sunday, it was observed that there was significant accumulation of waste along Sonepat Road near Sector 3, outside the TB Hospital, Subhash Road, Jhajjar Road, near the new bus stand and on the stretch from the Radio Station to Prem Nagar. Stray animals were seen rummaging through the garbage, while residents were found dumping waste at these overflowing points.

Pardeep, a resident near the TB Hospital in Ward 7, said the foul stench from the unattended garbage was not only distressing for the road users but also for shopkeepers of the area.

“Though a vehicle comes to lift the waste, it should make multiple rounds to ensure timely clearance. The situation worsens during rains, as waterlogging causes the garbage to flow onto roads and into residential areas,” he added. Kapil Nagpal, Municipal Councillor from Ward 7, admitted that the garbage often remained unattended near the TB Hospital.

“The firm awarded the temporary contract lacks adequate resources to maintain round-the-clock cleanliness across the city. At present, only main streets of his ward are being covered for door-to-door garbage collection. While the garbage is being cleared from all six dumping points in my ward, the low frequency of collection is the root cause of the problem. A regular tender is in process, which will help resolve the issue,” Nagpal added.

Rajesh, a resident of Anandpura locality, said a dumping point created outside Bal Bhawan had made daily life difficult.

“We come across the garbage every time we step out. The garbage remains unattended for hours. Not just our colony, but neighbouring areas too are suffering due to poor sanitation,” he lamented.

Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sector 3, pointed out that Sonepat Road was used by a large number of visitors entering Rohtak.

“The garbage dumped alongside the roads painted a dirty image of the city. The MC authorities must take immediate and firm action to resolve the issue permanently,” he demanded.

A similar concern was raised by Suresh, Rajnish and Deepak residing near the Subhash Road, who urged the MC authorities to relocate the dumping point away from their neighborhood.

An MC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the regular contracts of two private garbage collection firms expired on June 30. Since then, a temporary contract has been issued to another firm until a permanent arrangement is made. “The poor sanitary condition will be addressed once the new regular contract is allotted,” the official added.

Meanwhile, MC Commissioner Anand Sharma said e-tenders floated by the corporation for door-to-door waste collection, waste disposal and development works at the Kanheli Dairy Complex had been approved by the state authorities. “The door-to-door waste collection project will be implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 85.90 crore over five years. The waste disposal for the garbage generated in the municipal area will cost around Rs 25.50 crore and will run for 10 years. These projects will significantly improve cleanliness and prevent the building-up of garbage heaps,” Sharma claimed.

The Commissioner further stated that ongoing efforts were being made to enhance sanitation across the municipal area. “The Joint Commissioner is conducting surprise inspections in various wards to monitor cleanliness and employee attendance. Action is being taken against staff members found absent,” Sharma added.