MC struggles with waste management as garbage piles up

Solid waste management remains an uphill task for the Municipal Council during the festival season. Also, frequent resistance by the owners of the plot rented for dumping garbage has compounded issues for the officials. Residents say the frequent stacking of garbage at these plots forces them to breathe polluted air.

Acknowledging that inadequate infrastructure and unavailability of a proper space for the final dumping and disposal of garbage had remained major factors behind the poor sanitary situation, president of the MC claimed to have roped in office-bearers of safai mazdoor unions to put in extra efforts to deal with the situation.

“We are constantly looking for a more suitable place to dump garbage at permanently. We have also motivated sweepers to understand that they are the real frontline warriors to motivate them to work harder, especially during the festival season,” said president Vikas Krishan Sharma.

Sharma appreciated that almost all members of the sanitation department worked overtime on holidays to clear the heaps of garbage which mushroomed during this time.

Residents have threatened to launch an agitation against the authorities concerned if the state of affairs are not improved soon.

Failure to implement guidelines regarding single-use plastics, inadequate space for dumping garbage and a lack of infrastructure for segregation and lifting of solid waste were cited among the major factors behind the persistently grave situation of sanitation in the region.

Residents regretted that the authorities had also failed to make use of the facilities available under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. “Despite officials organising workshops and seminars to sensitise residents on the importance of shunning non-biodegradable materials, including single-use plastics, these were used with impunity,” regretted residents, urging the authorities concerned to ensure that guidelines on segregation of wastes were also implemented in letter and spirit.