Soni flags off e-rickshaws for lifting garbage in city

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 21

Cabinet Minister OP Soni on Monday said machinery worth Rs8.5 crore would be purchased for carrying out the cleanliness work in the city. During a function at Dhab Khatikan, he, along with Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu, flagged off 10 e-rickshaws for the lifting of garbage from inner city areas.

Soni said they had been receiving a lot of complaints about the sanitation condition in the inner areas and traffic jams due to garbage-lifting vehicles in narrow streets. He said due to routine jams, garbage was not lifted properly.

The Cabinet minister said to provide respite from jams and lift garbage, 10 e-rickshaws had been provided.

According to Soni, the e-rickshaws will collect moist and dry garbage separately. The battery-operated rickshaws are equipped with pressure lift mechanism for lifting the waste.

“The civic body is going to purchase machinery for the cleaning purpose at a cost of Rs8.5 crore under the Smart City project. It is our duty to keep the city clean and cooperate with the MC. LEDs lights are being installed in all wards at a cost of Rs40 crore and more than 50 per cent work has been completed. Besides, new tubewells are also being installed to address the water crisis,” said Soni.

Rintu said Amritsar was being developed as a model city. He said efforts were being made by the MC to keep the city clean.

The Mayor appealed to residents not to dump garbage on roadsides. He also asked shopkeepers to place a dustbin outside their shops.

“Amritsar is a holy city and it has religious importance where lakh of pilgrims come from all over the world. So, it is our duty to pay special attention to cleanliness of the city,” said the Mayor.

MC Commissioner Komal Mittal, councillors Mahesh Khanna, Vikas Soni, Arun Papal and Rajbir Kaur were also present on the occasion.