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Public Health / Sanitation

Without bins, Mohali becomes dumping ground

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 08:20 administrator
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The Times of India     08.12.2010

Without bins, Mohali becomes dumping ground

MOHALI: Complete absence of garbage bins in commercial areas of Mohali has compounded the problem on city streets, which stems from residents littering their city with startling callousness. To clean up the mess, a proposal has been lying with Mohali municipal council (MC) since September, but it has not seen the light of the day due to political rivalry between Congress-backed councillors and Shiromani Akali Dal-backed councillors.

Residential, industrial as well as commercial areas in Mohali city are in a complete mess with open dumping grounds formed near residences, piles and piles of garbage lying rotting near industrial houses and just plain rubbish being collected near shops in commercial areas.

A proposal lying with MC to install state-of-the-art garbage disposal bins in Phase-3B2 and Phase-VII markets has yet to be deliberated upon as the last time the House meeting to discuss developmental issues was held, it ended within 15 minutes of having started with both sides baying for each other?s blood and all developmental works being put on the back-burner.

An office-bearer in MC said, "We are in the process of repairing existing parking lots and then we are going to float tenders inviting private contractors to install sturdy garbage bins. This would take some time but we are hopeful of completing due process in about a couple of months' time. Upon being asked about the existing infrastructure in place, which is nowhere near requirements, the official replied that a lot of blame would have to be taken by residents themselves. He said, " The residents of Mohali are not in the habit of using garbage bins to dispose off their waste. They openly dump their rubbish on the streets or in a corner where it keeps accumulating. With the passage of time, such garbage dumps have turned into a hotbed for vector-borne diseases and residents themselves are the worst sufferers.

 

BMC pats itself for Shivaji Park clean-up

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 08:10 administrator
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The Times of India        08.12.2010

BMC pats itself for Shivaji Park clean-up

 MUMBAI: A day after the Chaityabhoomi celebrations got over, the BMC went into an overdrive to clean up Shivaji Park and its environs. The civic workers collected 10 truckloads (about 56 tonnes) of garbage from the ground and other adjoining streets.

Civic officials said that a team of workers toiled round the clock from the wee hours of Tuesday and cleaned up the place. "There were all kinds of things in the garbage, from plastic to bottles to glasses, remnants of food and offerings. But the roads were back to normal by Tuesday afternoon," said Kishor Kshirsagar, deputy municipal commissioner. However, Shivaji Park remained out of bounds. "It will be thrown open to the public on Wednesday. Things are still being taken out from there," Kshirsagar said.

Though the civic officials claimed that the work had been carried out successfully, residents said that even though the civic body had done a good job in most parts of the area, some portions had still not been cleaned properly. "For instance, although they washed the roads with water, the pressure of the water was not strong enough. Because of this, rice particles still remained on the ground," said Ashok Rawat, a Shivaji Park resident.

"Some places had excreta but the BMC has not cleaned it. Only disinfectants were sprayed on it," he said.
Meanwhile, Dalit activists said that the BMC had not made any efforts to keep the Chaityabhoomi site clean. "The BMC was well aware that thousands of people were scheduled to come to the shrine. They should have ensured that the area was clean. But there were sights of people sitting amid huge heaps of garbage that remained there for days," said advocate Shakil Ahmed of the Nirbhay Bano Andolan.

 

PMC's garbage processing unit serious health threat

Wednesday, 08 December 2010 07:25 administrator
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The Times of India         08.12.2010

PMC's garbage processing unit serious health threat

PUNE: The 87 industrial units in the Ramtekdi Industrial area have strongly objected to the garbage processing plant started two months ago by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The units claim that the stink of the garbage not only affects employees in the industrial area but is also a serious health threat to nearby residents.

Spread over 150 acres near Hadapsar, the Ramtekdi Industrial area has engineering, food industry and liquor units. Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, Pramod Dabir, chairman of the Ramtekdi industrial association said, "G Corp Properties Pvt Ltd, a construction company, holds a 16-acre plot in the industrial area. Twenty five per cent of the land was handed over to the PMC for amenities. It was expected that the land would be utilised for a garden, but it was suddenly selected as the place to set up a garbage processing unit which processes 80 tonnes to 100 tonnes of garbage every day."

He wondered how the PMC could use this land for a garbage processing unit as the entire area was surrounded by various industrial units. He said that G Corp had intended to develop the remaining plot into a residential complex but the garbage processing unit had halted the plan. "A secondary school and junior college is also situated nearby and it is also affected by the stinking garbage. Though the garbage is processed, it spreads a stink during the process," he said.

"A joint venture between German and Japanese counterpartsEagleBurgmann India Pvt Ltd, which manufactures auto components, has postponed its expansion plans due to the garbage unit. The Japanese parent company, Eagle Industries, of EagleBurgmann has bought a separate plot in the same industrial unit to set up its plant. Eagle Industries has a worldwide tie-up with Suzuki Motors to supply automobile parts to the latter," said J M Panthaki, managing director of EagleBurgmann India Pvt Ltd, who was present at the news conference.

He said, "The same is the case with the expansion of EagleBurgmann India, which has also bought a 50,000 sq ft flat." Anand Halkunde, local corporator of the Nationalist Congress Party said, "The garbage processing unit was sanctioned by the standing committee. A couple of corporators from Hadapsar area opposed the plant, but the majority voted in its favour. The plant was set up in September."

 
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