Malerkotla: Administration fails to implement Swachh Bharat guidelines
Mahesh Sharma
Malerkotla, July 7
Despite the Local Bodies Department’s tall claims, the solid waste management remains the biggest impediment in providing basic amenities in Malerkotla and its surrounding localities.
The failure to implement guidelines regarding single-use plastics, inadequate space for dumping garbage and lack of infrastructure for segregation and lifting of solid waste have been identified as major factors behind the deteriorating sanitation condition here.
Though designated officials had been organising workshops to sensitise residents on the need to prevent use of non-biodegradable materials, authorities at the civic bodies of the district have failed to ban single-use plastics and implementing guidelines on segregation of waste.
Leaders of Safai Mazdoor unions said the authorities had failed to provide required infrastructure and adequate space for segregation and disposal of the garbage collected from domestic and commercial units.
Authorities have failed to sensitise residents about the need of segregating garbage before handing it over to the people collecting it, said Chaman Lal Dulla, president of Safayee Mazdoor Union at Ahmedgarh.
Malerkotla Municipal Council executive officer Apar Apaar Singh said surprise checking was being conducted with the help of Punjab Pollution Control Board personnel and 150 kg of banned plastics were seized in the last quarter.
