For all the pledges on environment, dry waste still burnt inside Company Bagh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 10

Barely within 24 hours of pledging and adopting green methods for Solid Liquid Resource Management, the MC’s intentions to root out pollution causing methods of waste disposal went up in smoke.

Making a mockery of the garden waste resource management concept implemented at Company Gardens, the morning walkers were greeted with heavy smoke and pollution caused by burning of dry leaves.

Causing inconvenience to public, the heaps of garden waste were burnt by cleaning employees without any check. It is surprising for many because recently, mulching concept for treating wet and dry garden waste was adopted under the guidance of C Srinivas, director, Indian Green Services. The process works on applying scientific procedures into garbage disposal by first reducing and making a composting bed which can hold seven tractor load of dry leaves over a period of time.

The MC hopes to get a minimum of Rs 18,000 from the three tonnes of mulch produced over a period of two-three months and also it improves soil fertility and retains moisture of the soil.

The practice of burning dry waste is not new and has been adopted even by employees of the MC. “One of the major sources of air pollution in the city is the burning of dry waste. Since the MC employees went on a strike, the easiest possible solution to treat heaps of garbage has been to burn them,” said Rajinder Walia, a resident of Joshi Colony.