Sangrur stinks as waste not lifted for three days

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 30

The town stinks as the Nagar Council (NC) has not lifted the waste for the last three days after the owner of the land which was taken on lease to dump garbage started a dharna along with the BKU Ugrahan to prevent the council from dumping waste on his land.

The land owner alleged that the council had not paid his advance lease money of Rs 6.65 lakh, but a council officer said they had paid the amount after “mandatory” adjustments.

“The NC has not paid me Rs 6.65-lakh advance lease money due on July 1 as per agreement for five acres. They have paid me only Rs 60,000 after alleging that they used only 2.75 acres. I along with the BKU Ugrahan have started a dharna here and will not allow the council to dump the waste. I want to quash the agreement,” said Randhir Singh, owner of the land, while protesting in front of the land.

In 2013, the NC had taken 5 acres from a Badrukhan farmer, Randhir Singh, to dump waste by paying Rs 6.65 lakh annual rent for six years till 2019. But On June 15 this year, the NC president along with other councillors had alleged that NC officers were using only 2.75 acres but paying the lease money for 5 acres. The remaining 2.25 acres were being allegedly used by the owner despite getting lease money for all five acres.

“During our investigation, it came to light that our officers have been using only 2.75 acres for the last two years. After making all adjustments, we have paid him Rs 60,000 and now he has no outstanding amount towards us,” said Amrit Lal, Executive Officer, NC, Sangrur.

President of the NC Ripudaman Singh Dhillon said they had written to the DC and local police to help them in dumping waste as Randhir was creating problems.

“He could not quash the agreement and we have every right to dump waste till 2019. We have paid him the rent of the land which we are using and why should we pay for that land which we have not used?” said Dhillon.