Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Moga MC dumping untreated solid waste into 2 water bodies

- Harmandeep Singh harmandeep.singh@htlive.com

MOGA: In complete disregard for the environmen­t and health of residents, Moga municipal corporatio­n (MC) is throwing untreated solid waste into two water bodies in Landhe Ke village. One of the water bodies is located just 200-ft away from a local school and 50-ft away from a private hospital and Dera Beas.

The school and hospital authoritie­s had lodged a complaint with the MC commission­er in March 12 but to no avail.

Area councilor Harwinder Kaur Gill, who owes allegiance to the Akali Dal, said, “On Tuesday, residents had intercepte­d the Moga MC vehicles in a bid to stop them from discarding garbage into the seasonal pond; however, the civil body staff took the garbage to another pond and dumped it there.”

Gill further said that MC staff has been dumping waste into the pond for the last three months. “Some residents, including the authoritie­s of the school, hospital and Dera Beas located nearby, had approached the higher authoritie­s but no corrective measures were taken,” said the councillor.

Pawan Kumar Bansal, the director of LLR Internatio­nal Public School, which is located close to the pond, said, “Around 1,000 students study here. The unscientif­ic dumping of garbage here will leave them prone to several diseases.”

Dr Rajiv Gupta, member of the hospital’s management, said, “Due to the foul smell from the dump, it has become difficult for us to breathe. It especially worrying as we have patients here and the area has become a breeding ground for flies, which may transmit more diseases.”

Dr Gupta further said, “We have taken up the matter with

the MC commission­er and brought it to the notice of the deputy commission­er through the local unit of the Indian Medical Associatio­n (IMA).”

Moga deputy commission­er Sandeep Hans, said, “If untreated waste is being dumped, it is a violation. I will look into the matter immediatel­y.”

MC commission­er Anita Darshi, said, “The authorised dumping site of the civic body is at Dhalleke village in Moga. But I am not aware that the garbage is being dumped at Landh Ke village. I will immediatel­y get it checked.”

 ??  ?? A vehicle dumping solid waste into a water bodies at Landhe Ke village in Moga district.
HT PHOTO
A vehicle dumping solid waste into a water bodies at Landhe Ke village in Moga district. HT PHOTO

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