No respite from garbage stench near Aarti Chowk

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 3

Uncovered garbage dump near Aarti Chowk has been giving a tough time to nearby shopkeepers for the past several years so much so that they claim to have become accustomed to the stench emanating from the piles of garbage on the left side of Ferozepur Road.

Shopkeepers say they have repeatedly filed complaints with the Municipal Corporation in this regard, but to no avail.

Inderpal Singh, one of the shopkeepers, said: “It has been five years now that the dump has been left as it is. We had done everything in the best of our capacities, but to no avail. Now, we have habituated ourselves to living here amid foul smell. Our business is affected as customers do not want to come here.”

Aman Mann, owner of a gym nearby the dump, said: “We prefer sitting inside our showrooms whenever the garbage is lifted. Parking vehicles become another problem when garbage lifting machine operates here. My customers want to me build a food court near the gym, but how can I set up a food joint amid the garbage?”

Another shopkeeper Gokaran Singh said: “Garbage from all nearby areas is being dumped here, including the waste from a hotel. The condition becomes appalling during the rainy season. The tall claims of Swatcch Bharat can never be achieved with this kind of approach. Mosquitoes, flies and rats are multiplying due to the garbage dump.”

Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Medical Health Officer Vipan Malhotra said: “Currently, there are no plans to shift the garbage dump anywhere. The problem will be resolved after the completion of an ongoing project of the six-laning of the road. However, double lifting of the garbage is being done to avoid inconvenience to the passersby and shopkeepers.”