Waste rots as dispute rages over Dhakoli dump site

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, June 24

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s much-hyped Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has taken a beating in the Dhakoli area after private safai karamcharis stopped door-to-door collection of garbage due to the ongoing row over the dumping site.

Safai karamcharis alleged that some politically influential people in Dhakoli had fenced the area with barbed wires to prevent them from disposing of garbage as the people living in the vicinity complained of stench emanating from the secondary dumping point.

When this correspondent visited the site, he found the area fenced as alleged by safai karamcharis, besides two signage boards erected at both ends warning people of fine of Rs 500 if caught dumping garbage at the site and initiation of proceeding against violators.

Instead of probing the matter against the people, who fenced the area, officials concerned gave an indication that they were hand in glove with encroachers, said sources.

When asked about fencing of the secondary point, chief sanitary inspector, Zirakpur MC, Rajinder Singh, said neither had they stopped safai karamcharis from dumping garbage at the secondary point nor given any permission of fencing the area with barbed wires.

“Action should be initiated against people, who have fenced the area as it is owned by the civic body,” he added.

On the other hand, the Zirakpur MC has asked safai karamcharis to dump garbage at Gazipur dumping site, which is 7 km from the secondary point in Dhakoli.

As a result, safai karamcharis have stopped lifting of garbage from bins across Dhakoli since the last seven days, which has lead to accumulation of tonnes of waste in the area. Meanwhile, Dhakoli residents are at the receiving end and worried about insanitary conditions in the area. They are now looking for making alternative arrangements for lifting of garbage from their houses.

Shamsher Singh, president of the Punjab Safai Mazdoor Federation, Zirakpur, has demanded that the MC must allow safai karamcharis to dump garbage only at the secondary point as it was not possible for them to cover distance of 14 km (up-down) on rehris.

“We have stopped the work because MC officials are not ready to accept our demands. We will not withdraw our strike till we are satisfied with resolution of the issue,” he added.

When asked about closure of the secondary point and with whose permission the area was fenced, Manvir Singh Gill, Executive officer, Zirakpur Municipal Council, did not give any reply. He told the correspondent to talk to chief sanitary inspector as he was busy in a meeting.

Kulwinder Sohi, president, Zirakpur MC said, “How can one erect signage boards and fence the area as the land belongs to the MC? “Officials should remove barbed wires as nobody can encroach upon the MC property,” he added.