Garbage woes persist in Malerkotla, finding land for dumpsite a headache for civic bodies

Locals continue to suffer as the municipal bodies in Malerkotla district are having a tough time looking for suitable land to use a dumpsite for waste from households and commercial establishments.

Most of the current dumps, located on outskirts of towns and cities near surrounding villages, have led to agitations by people residing in the rural localities.

Tensions ran high as the locals, on multiple occasions, pressed for removing garbage dumps from Matoi Road, Dehliz Road and Kup village.

Various trade and farmer unions recently held a protest at Matoi Road here, seeking immediate removal of garbage dump that they said was causing nuisance for residents and passersby for over two decades.

The protesters alleged municipal authorities had failed to make a Delhi-based firm honour a contract of lifting the garbage even as a major portion of the remuneration had been paid. Similar situation occurred regarding a dump near the Malerkotla Bus Stand.

The municipal authorities here have fared weak in solid waste management during the Swachh Bharat Mission. The authorities were earlier advised to act upon suggestions and instructions of the directorate of the Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC).

Though senior functionaries of the PMIDC visited some of the localities after complaints by local, no action was taken.

Bailing of dry garbage, processing of wet garbage, deployment of staff to sensitise residents about waste segregation garbage and remedial steps according to suggestions of councillors and social leaders are among the key parameters of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

The PMIDC inspecting teams also observed alleged gross discrepancies in functioning of Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), door-to-door collection, dumping at secondary points and sensitisation of locals on the need for segregation.

Authorities at various local bodies said all out efforts were being made to find suitable and adequate landfills for dumping garbage in accordance with guidelines of the Swachh Bharat Mission.

Chander Parkash Wadhwa, executive officer, Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh, said officials concerned in the Sanitation Department had been asked to expedite the process for removal of garbage dumps and strengthening of solid waste management infrastructure in their respective areas.