Waste disposal in Punjab cities poor: Report

Chandigarh, July 1

The Local Government Department has performed poorly in implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management (MSWM) in urban local bodies (ULBs) across the state, resulting in failure to achieve full coverage of households for door-to-door waste collection.

Records of three MCs checked

To check the efficiency and effectiveness of the Municipal Solid Waste Management by the ULBs from 2015 to 2018, the CAG checked the records of Ludhiana, Bathinda and Jalandhar Municipal Corporations and 10 Municipal Committees and nagar panchayats.

Tabling an audit report of the urban local bodies in the Vidhan Sabha’s Budget Session that concluded yesterday, the Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) said financial mismanagement and delay in release of funds resulted in failure of implementation of the MSWM.

To check the efficiency and effectiveness of the MSWM by the ULBs from 2015 to 2018, the CAG checked the records of Ludhiana, Bathinda and Jalandhar Municipal Corporations and 10 Municipal Committees and nagar panchayats.

It has been pointed out that the Jalandhar and Ludhiana Municipal Corporations; and Rampura Phul, Maur, Jagraon and Raikot Municipal Councils were at least 49 per cent short of their targets.

The CAG concluded that improper utilisation of funds, non-recovery of land lease rent and unjustified expenditure on salaries and excess payment of tipping fee showed lack of financial control.