Palampur panchayat introduces eco-friendly vehicle for garbage

vinder Sood

Palampur, February 23

The Aima panchayat of Palampur has introduced an eco-friendly vehicle for door-to-door garbage collection in its jurisdiction. It has become the first panchayat in the state to have purchased an eco-friendly vehicle. The panchayat already has a modern garbage treatment plant.

The Kullu Deputy Commissioner has also followed the Aima panchayat and decided to set up a garbage treatment plant in Kullu district. A team of officials from Kullu recently visited Aima to see the functioning of the plant.

The state government has directed 300 panchayats situated in satellite areas of different towns of the state to follow the model of the Aima panchayat for setting up garbage treatment plants, so that the Swachh Bharat Mission could be implemented successfully.

Sanjeev Rana, panchayat, Aima pradhan, while talking to The Tribune, said different panchayat delegations from all over the state had visited the treatment plant, studied the door-to-door system of garbage collection and the technique followed by the village panchayat for treating garbage and making compost.

With a population of 7,000, Aima, adjoining Palampur town, has emerged as the first panchayat of the state to set up its own garbage treatment plant. Five years ago, Aima became the first panchayat in the state that started door-to-door collection of garbage.

Recently, hearing a PIL pertaining to the dumping of garbage in Palampur, the Himachal Pradesh High Court had appreciated the efforts of Rana for taking the initiative to install a garbage treatment plant.

Rural Development Minister Virender Kanwar, during his visit to Aima last week, had offered all possible help to the panchayat, which has become a model for the state and treating the garbage of adjoining areas.

He admitted that it was a difficult task to run and install the plant for a small area. However, the panchayat pradhan and members had become a model for the entire state, he said. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur recently directed 300 panchayats to follow the Aima panchayat and set up their own garbage treatment plants.

Setting an example

• With a population of 7,000, Aima, adjoining Palampur town, has emerged as the first panchayat of the state to set up its own garbage treatment plant
• Five years ago, Aima became the first panchayat in the state that started door-to-door collection of garbage