Open house: Should vacant plots be allowed to become garbage disposal sites?

It’s collective responsibilty

When vacant plots turn into dumping grounds, culpability becomes a complex, collective concern involving citizens, property owners and municipal authorities. Citizens bear responsibility for their careless disposal of waste, driven by the mistaken belief that someone else will clean up the mess. Such behavior reflects a deeper civic apathy and disregard for collective wellbeing. Landowners, too, cannot escape blame. Many leave their plots unattended or delegate upkeep to irresponsible custodians, who allow such spaces to become overgrown, exposing neighbours to deadly diseases. Landlords’ absence exacerbates the problem, particularly when boundaries and maintenance are neglected, hence they should be held responsible. Municipal authorities with lax enforcement of sanitation laws, irregular waste collection and a lack of strict penalties for offenders create an environment, where such negligence thrives unchecked. True accountability, therefore, lies in collaboration — citizens exercising civic responsibility, landowners maintaining their property and municipal bodies enforcing regulations effectively. Only through shared vigilance and an integrated approach can urban spaces remain clean, safe and livable.

Novin Christopher

File complaint with Municipal authorities

Leaving garbage in vacant plots is a serious problem with significant public health and environmental consequences. This issue, often driven by carelessness, lack of awareness and convenience, requires a combination of enforcement, community action and improved waste management. Piled-up waste, especially during the monsoon, becomes a breeding ground for pests and pathogens. It attracts mosquitoes, rodents and stray animals, posing a threat to human health. Decomposing garbage creates an unbearable stench that affects air quality and reduces the quality of life for residents. Illegal dumping can contaminate soil and pollute waterways if chemicals or toxic materials leach into the ground. This is especially dangerous if construction debris or hazardous materials are discarded. The remedies include filing a complaint with municipal authorities. If a vacant plot is owned by a private party, neighbours can get a notice issued to the owner, demanding garbage removal. In extreme cases a writ petition can be filed with the HC. Community clean-ups can be organised, and later saplings and bushes can be planted on these. Besides, signboards with warnings can be erected on vacant plots against dumping of garbage. Educate the public on the consequences of illegal dumping and the importance of civic discipline.

Sukhdev Sharma

Issue notice to plot owners

Several plots in the city remain unutilised by their owners or are waiting to be auctioned by the development authorities. Residents continue to dump all kinds of rubbish — from horticulture, solid or rubble — on these plots. Resultantly, this waste rots away and starts emitting a foul odour, attracting mosquitoes, rodents and other pests, which pose significant health risks. Lives of the people living in the vicinity of such dumps becomes miserable. Authorities should issue notices to such plot owners to clean and fence these. Legal provisions as per Punjab Municipal Act and Environment (Protection) Act should be used to persuade the owners to comply. If the plot owners don’t maintain cleanliness, then the civic body should impose penalty on them. The authorities concerned must immediately auction unsold plots and persuade the existing plot owners to either start construction on the plots or build boundary walls. People should be educated about the importance of proper waste disposal and the consequences of illegal dumping.

RS SEMBHI

Landowners be held accountable

The issue of vacant plots transforming into dumping grounds is a complex problem of shared responsibility. While negligent citizens who illegally throw trash are directly at fault, accountability also extends to absentee landowners, who fail to maintain their properties, creating an inviting environment for dumping waste. Furthermore, the municipal system plays a crucial role: Inadequate waste collection, infrequent enforcement of anti-dumping laws or a lack of accessible public disposal options can all contribute to the problem. Ultimately, effective solutions require a multi-pronged approach: Stronger enforcement against illegal dumping, better monitoring by landowners and improved public services and infrastructure by the municipality.

Ishmeet Singh

Pose serious health risks

When vacant plots become dumping grounds, the responsibility doesn’t lie with a single party. It is a shared failure involving negligent citizens, absentee landowners and underperforming municipal systems. Many citizens treat open plots as convenient places to dump garbage, often out of habit or due to lack of accessible disposal facilities. Absentee landowners who fail to monitor or maintain their properties, allow these spaces to deteriorate into unhealthy waste zones. Municipal authorities often lack infrastructure, manpower or the will to enforce regulations, clean illegal dumps or hold offenders accountable. This neglect not only damage the environment, but also pose serious public health risks. True accountability requires collective action. Citizens must respect public spaces, landowners must take responsibility for securing their properties and municipalities must step up enforcement, improve waste management services and run awareness campaigns. Only then can such plots be protected from turning into dumping grounds.

Manpreet Kaur

Separate sites for waste dumping

The responsibility for use of vacant plots in any city as dumping ground for garbage lies with the owner. In the first place, he must ensure that the plot is not used by anyone for any purpose, including MC sweepers for dumping of garbage. The municipal corporation must allot separate sites for the dumping of garbage. In the absence of such fixed sites, the sweepers make use of some vacant plot for dumping of garbage. They cannot be blamed for this as they hardly care to know about the owner. It is neither their responsibility, nor they would care to do that. Further, the use of such vacant sites for dumping of garbage adds to pollution and poor management of the city by the corporation.

Gautam Dev

Owners, MC share responsibility

To prevent vacant lands from becoming dumping grounds, landowners and the municipal administration must share responsibilities. Municipalities should impose stiff fines on absentee landowners who fail to maintain their properties, as well as perform regular inspections to assure compliance. Additionally, local governments can implement a community reporting system via a mobile app or helpline, allowing individuals to readily report illegal dumping. This combination of accountability and citizen participation will result in cleaner neighbourhoods and discourage the abuse of vacant properties.

Tamanpreet Kaur Khangura

Civic body can find solution

This is a complex and deeply interconnected issue where accountability is often shared, but the weight of responsibility shifts depending on the context. Residents are the direct source of waste as they choose to dump their garbage on a vacant plot instead of using MC services or proper disposal methods. In many areas, municipal waste collection is unreliable, non-existent or too expensive. A neglected property is an invitation for misuse. Property ownership comes with duties, including maintenance and security. The MC is mandated with public health, sanitation and enforcement of bylaws. If garbage collection is irregular, recycling options are absent or official dump is far away, the system itself pushes people towards illegal dumping. The MC is the only one with the power and authority to create a comprehensive solution.

Mohammad Saleem Farooqui

Failing to track owners MC failure

An open, unkempt and neglected plot works as a magnet for dumping. It signals lack of oversight. In most municipalities, bylaws hold property owners responsible for cleaning their land, even if the dumping was done by others. They can be fined for creating a public nuisance or health hazard. Failing to track down and penalise absentee landowners for their dereliction of duties is MC failure. The municipality has the authority, resources and legal mandate to break the cycle. It can compel landowners to secure their properties through fines and legal action. Municipal authorities may enforce anti-dumping laws with consistent penalties. While citizens and landowners must be held responsible, ultimate accountability for creating a system that prevents and manages this issue rests with the municipal authorities.

Farzana Khan

Cleanliness joint responsibility

When vacant plots turn into dumping grounds, the accountability lies with negligent citizens, absentee landowners and a failing municipal system. Citizens often dispose of waste irresponsibly, turning open spaces into garbage sites. Landowners who ignore the upkeep of their vacant properties allow such misuse to continue unchecked. At the same time, the municipal system fails to enforce strict waste management rules and maintain cleanliness in these areas. Therefore, keeping the surroundings clean requires joint responsibility - citizens must act responsibly, landowners must maintain their plots, and municipal authorities must ensure proper monitoring and waste disposal. Through awareness campaigns, the government can also educate citizens about cleanliness and environmental responsibility.

Harmanpreet Kaur

Don’t throw garbage in the open

In such a situation, it is not just one person’s fault, but everyone shares the responsibility. Citizens should not throw garbage in the open or at empty spaces, and they must be made aware that such behaviour is harmful to the environment and society. The owner of the plot is also at fault as they should regularly take care of their property and place clear signs or warnings to prevent people from dumping waste there. The authorities concerned or systems are equally responsible as they should monitor every area properly, maintain cleanliness and contact the plot owner when such issues arise. Proper coordination between citizens, property owners and local authorities is essential to keep the surroundings clean. A collective effort towards awareness, responsibility and regular maintenance can ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone.

Ishpreet kaur

Spoils city’s beauty, is health hazard

Vacant plots, meant for development often turn into dumping grounds filled with garbage. The sight not only spoils the city’s beauty, but also poses health and environmental hazards. The blame cannot be placed on one party alone. Many people carelessly throw waste in open areas, showing lack of civic sense. They neglect their duty to maintain their city clean while municipal authorities often fail to enforce cleanliness and penalise offenders. The solution lies in cooperation — stricter municipal monitoring, fines for negligent owners and greater public awareness about waste management. Clean surroundings reflect a responsible community.

Harneet Kaur

Blame should be shared by all

When vacant plots turn into dumping grounds, the blame doesn’t rest on one shoulder — it’s shared by all of us. Many citizens carelessly throw waste on empty spaces, thinking it’s someone else’s job to clean it. This attitude reflects lack of civic sense and respect for our environment. At the same time, landowners who leave their plots unattended without fencing or upkeep are equally responsible. When no one looks after a vacant space, it naturally turns into a dumping spot. And then there’s the municipal system, which often fails to provide regular waste collection or take strict action against those who litter. Only when everyone plays their part, can we turn these neglected spaces into something better.

Veerpal kaur

Breeding ground for mosquitoes

Across cities and towns, vacant plots have sadly become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. What begins as a small pile of waste, soon turns into a mountain of neglect. Accountability, however, is shared. Negligent citizens dump household trash without thinking about its environmental or health impact. Absentee landowners ignore their plots for years, giving rise to unhygienic conditions. The municipal system, too, often fails in regular waste collection, monitoring and strict enforcement of cleanliness rules. The solution is that citizens must stop littering, landowners should maintain or fence their property and municipal bodies must impose penalties on violators.

Sonampreet Singh

Accountability lies with MC

These vacant plots, once meant for development, have now become breeding places for mosquitoes and diseases, posing serious health hazards. The accountability for this issue lies primarily with the municipal system, which has failed to provide and monitor a proper waste disposal mechanism. Irregular garbage collection, lack of designated dumping areas and poor enforcement encourage such irresponsible practices. The absence of civic sense and public responsibility has led many to treat open plots as convenient garbage pits.

Avleen Kaur

Multi-pronged approach necessary

When vacant plots become dumping grounds, a multi-pronged approach is necessary to address the issue effectively. Due to failure of civic sense, some individuals may choose the convenience of illegally dumping waste and not following proper disposal procedures. Landowners, particularly those who are absentee, are often held accountable for not maintaining or securing their vacant properties. By not erecting boundary walls or fences, they create an open invitation for illegal dumping. Plots that are neglected and left to overgrow with grass and shrubs can become breeding grounds for disease-carrying pests.

Anmol Singh

Fine violators throwing garbage

Empty plots turning into garbage dumps is a serious problem for our society. This is the responsibility of both citizens and the MC. People should understand their responsibility to dispose of garbage at the right place. The MC should impose a fine on anyone who throws garbage at a vacant plot. The accumulation of garbage on such plots is very dangerous for both people’s health and hygiene. Plot owners should keep their plots clean and erect boards, stating that littering was prohibited here. The government should make people aware of this. If the MC and the people maintain cleanliness, this city can become very beautiful.

PRABHJOT KAUR

Issue At Hand

Vacant plots turning into dumping grounds has sparked a debate whether landowners, civic authorities or public are responsible. While municipal laws often require owners to maintain such plots, enforcement is weak and illegal dumping goes unchecked. Owners argue they can’t control trespassers, while residents blame both neglect and poor waste management. Civic bodies can issue fines and notices, but rarely act proactively.

Question for next week

The MC has decided to give contract of six sites in the city. Do you feel that fleecing at parking lots continues despite fixed rates and what should be done to curb it?

Suggestions in not more than 150 words can be sent to ludhianadesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (October 23)