Amritsar: Poor sanitation leaves residents of Bhai Gurdas Nagar in distress

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 13

Residents of the Bhai Gurdas Nagar commonly known as New Amritsar locality are irked over poor sanitation in markets and the residential area. Heaps of garbage can be seen on vacant plots near the main entrance and road of the locality. The locality is managed by the Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT) which hires contractors for maintaining cleanliness.

The AIT often arranges labour for conducting cleanliness drives in the locality. Apart from pruning of trees, workers remove wild grass and weeds after every few months.

Generally, door-to-door garbage lifting vehicles collect waste from households, but there are no proper arrangements to maintain cleanliness in vacant areas.

A large number of plots are lying vacant in the New Amritsar area. Ironically, filth has accumulated on vacant plots. Naresh Johar, a resident said, “On the main entrance of the locality, a large signboard states, “New Amritsar welcomes you”. Heaps of garbage can be seen lying a few metres away from the board. Garbage scattered on vacant plots welcomes visitors.”

He said, “The Municipal Act 1976 states that even a vacant plot owned by an individual should be kept clean. Otherwise, the plot owner could be penalised.”

“Waste is dumped on the main ground where the administration allows a firecracker market. The AIT is not cleaning markets properly. An illegal rehri market has come up on the main road of New Amritsar locality. The area around rehri market is in pathetic condition. How can people be allowed to eat at such an unhygienic space?” said Jatinder Singh, another locality resident.

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