Overflowing dustbins health hazard for Palampur villagers

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, November 30

Lakhs of rupees spent on the purchase and installation of hundreds of garbage bins in rural areas of Palampur two years ago under the Swachh Bharat Mission have gone down the drain. Now, most of the dustbins have either been stolen or are broken.

These dustbins were given to different panchayats without any planning or making any provision for the removal of garbage. Only 30 per cent of these dustbins are now left in villages and these, too, are overflowing with garbage.

During a visit to about 24 villages adjoining Palampur town, it was seen that instead of helping in keeping the areas clean, these bins, emanating a foul smell, had become a health hazard and a cause for concern for both public and local authorities. These dustbins were distributed through MLAs and MPs in 2018 and 2019 for installation in their areas.

However, before the installation of these bins, the state government forgot to make arrangements for the removal or proper handling of the garbage collected. In the absence of a facility for garbage treatment in many villages, residents dump the waste in local streams, forests and rivers, resulting in environmental degradation.

Garbage can be seen spilling out from these bins onto foot paths, drains, water channels and roads, posing a serious threat to people’s health.

BDOs of Sulaha, Bhawarna, Panchrukhi and Baijnath, said they did not know who installed these bins and where the garbage was to be treated. To date, there were no guidelines from the state for the disposal and treatment of garbage collected in these bins, they added.

Join Whatsapp Channel of The Tribune for latest updates.