Open house: What needs to be done to improve cleanliness in the state?s business capital

Optimise industrial operations

Human activities such as stubble burning generate a significant amount of aerosols, but it’s the emission of poisonous gases from industries that poses a serious threat to the environment. For this reason, it’s necessary to optimise the industrial operations by becoming more energy efficient. Factory owners must employ abatement mechanisms that help destroy pollutants before they enter the environment. Therefore, scrubber system, which is considered to be effective and economical, can be put to use in controlling industrial pollution.

Novin Christopher

Place dustbins at appropriate places

Careless attitude of general public, authorities and industrialists is the main reason behind the fall in the cleanliness ranking. We should have a careful attitude towards the cleanliness. In order to restore its original place, we need to work hard and take care of several things. The MC authorities must be vigilant and dustbins must be placed at appropriate places across the city. Awareness camps regarding health benefits of cleanliness must be organised so that people can adopt a positive attitude. More attention should be laid on slum areas. Safai karamcharis must perform their duties with due diligence and care.

Ritu Priya

Onus lies primarily on Municipal Corporation

There is a famous saying, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” But it is sad that the city has shown a downward trend as far as the cleanliness ranking of above 10 lakh population cities is concerned. The onus for all this lies primarily on the Municipal Corporation, but morally we (residents) as well as industrialists are also equally responsible for all this mess. MC staff was busy making arrangements during the Covid pandemic due to which they were not able to perform their cleanliness duty properly. Therefore, there is a dip in the city’s cleanliness ranking. There is a need for serious and concrete collective efforts to improve the situation. I am sure that with the collaborative efforts, we will hit the bull’s eye and achieve higher cleanliness rankings.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Provide two garbage bins to each household

The Municipal Corporation should provide two garbage bins (red and green) to each household. People should dump recyclable waste in green dustbins and non-recyclable in red dustbins. People littering outside their houses should be punished heavily. There should be a nodal agency in every area that will monitor all these exercises. With the help of people of the area, the agency should plant saplings and at least one plant should be nurtured by a person. There should be a provision for separate public toilets for men and women in each area and the contract for its maintenance should be given to a private company or the nodal agency. MC vehicles ferrying garbage should be covered properly. Huge dustbins must be placed on both sides of each road. The city can again achieve higher rank with the contribution and cooperation of people.

Farzana Khan

Ensure proper functioning of STPs

As the Municipal Corporation failed to improve its performance, Ludhiana slipped to 39th position, out of the 48 cities (above 10 lakh population category). There is a need to ensure proper functioning of sewerage treatment plants (STPs), processing of solid waste and legacy. The MC needs to ensure management of construction and demolition waste too. Waste-to-energy plants should be set up.

Anwita Dixit

Motivate residents to keep premises clean

Swachh Survekshan is an annual survey of cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation in cities across India. It was launched as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, which is a cleanliness campaign run by the Government of India. The survey intends to foster a spirit of healthy competition amongst the cities to improve their services delivery to citizens and move towards creating cleaner cities. In order to improve the ranking of Ludhiana, residents should be motivated to keep their premises and surroundings clean. Swachhta slogans, paintings and graffiti should also be displayed on walls at important places to spread awareness about the importance of cleanliness. Rallies and seminars should be frequently organised in this respect. The MC should ensure 100 per cent door-to-door garbage collection in the city. Rag-pickers should be given tips on efficient collection and segregation of waste. Portable compactors should be installed to segregate and manage the waste properly. Community toilets should be kept clean. Industries should set up effluent treatment plants (ETPs) of the required capacity. Cleanliness competitions should be conducted in hotels, hospitals, schools, etc.

RS Sembhi

Wage a war against dirt and dust

All of us will have to wage a war against dirt, dust and filth. Measures should be meticulously planned and all should stick to their guns. Cleanliness will go a long way in containing the spread of dengue too.

Dr Sunil Chopra

Councillors should inspect their areas

To improve cleanliness in the state’s business capital, councillors should inspect cleanliness in their areas. Phrase “Cleanliness is next to godliness” must be followed by each and everyone. System for disposal of waste material should be upgraded with the help of advanced technologies. Awareness regarding cleanliness should be conducted through speeches in morning assembly at schools. Awareness should also be made through online webinar, YouTube, newspaper, radio, posters, etc.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Embark on cleanliness campaigns

As Ludhiana is an industrial city, there is a large number of labour force here. These people are not quite educated, so they don’t bother about cleanliness and sanitation. The authorities, along with the general public, should team up and embark on cleanliness campaigns to improve the ranking of the city.

Kamaldeep Kaur

Pollution level major problem for city

Ludhiana is rightly called as the industrial hub of the country. Lakhs of people visit the city for business deals. Pollution level of the industrial town has become a major problem for the city. The recently conducted survey by the government agency has pointed out that the pollution level in Jalandhar is more as compared to Ludhiana and fresh air level of Ludhiana has increased to some extent, but this is not sufficient.

JBS Nanda

City residents should contribute their bit

It is a fact that Ludhiana has slipped to 39th rank out of 48 cities as compared to 34 out of 47 cities last year with 10 lakh population in Indian cities. Sweepers should be motivated for working passionately. Mechanised sweeping of roads is the best bet. Liberal funds are required for hiring relevant work force. Residents should do their bit by cleaning their houses and segregating wet and dry waste. They should be part of the solution, not the problem. Garbage collection and disposal is essential. Dumping grounds should be away from human settlements. Strict and passionate supervision are also need of the hour.

Dr Sukhdev Sharma, Machhiwara

MC officials must work hard to improve ranking

MC officials must work hard to improve the city’s cleanliness ranking. Sweepers on duty must be pulled up to maintain cleanliness and culprits must be punished. Simultaneously, the general public should be made to learn to keep the city clean. Garbage should not be dumped on roadsides in and around the city. This practise not only adds to pollution but also presents a poor picture. People should be told about methods for self-disposal of kitchen waste by converting it into organic manure for use in kitchen gardens.

Gautam Dev

QUESTION

Encroachments on roadsides, vendors occupying public space, shopkeepers displaying their goods outside shops and wrong parking, especially by auto-rickshaws, are causing bottlenecks and obstructing free flow of vehicular traffic on city roads, especially internal ones. The police, along with the civic body, on Saturday launched a drive to check such hindrances on roads. Similar campaigns had also been launched in the past, but we’re short-lived and failed to make any difference. What needs to be done to ensure smooth flow of vehicular traffic on roads in Ludhiana?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to

ludhiana.feedback@gmail.com