Ludhiana: SBS Nagar residents fume over waste burning in parks

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, June 23

Irked over the persistent practice of burning waste in parks, residents of the Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar colony of Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) have lodged a complaint with the Principal Secretary, Local Government, Punjab. They said the burning of dry leaves and garbage was adding to air pollution in the colony and damaging trees.

Residents, including Arvind Sharma, Atul Kumar, Sunil Kumar, Amarjit Singh, Balraj Chopra, HP Singh and Jagdeep Singh Ghuman, submitted that burning of foliage in parks was in violation of the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had made a recommendation that green pits or compost pits be set up in all parks for disposal of fallen leaves and foliage so that the compost mixture could be used to enhance fertility of the land under green cover.

“Compost/green pits for disposal of fallen leaves, foliage and organic waste is the most viable and economical method of disposal as per the guidelines of the NGT. There is need to issue explicit directions to the LIT authorities to immediately stop burning garbage and leaves in the parks, which could instead be disposed in compost pits in the larger interest of conservation of environment and health of the city residents,” said aggrieved residents.

Copies of the complaint have also been sent to the NGT and the LIT authorities for further necessary action.