Jalandhar MC using devp authority’s properties as dumpyard: Estate officer
JALANDHAR: Jalandhar development authority (JDA) estate officer Jai Inder Singh on Sunday said residents of different areas have approached the authority complaining about illegal dumping of waste by the municipal corporation (MC) in vacant plots of the JDA.
The estate officer informed HT that residents from prime sites have been visiting the department and complaining about the foul smell in their area due the practice of illegal dumping.
“People living at the 120-feet Road area have been approaching us for quite some time and have complained to us about the waste dumping exercise. Valmiki Jayanti is on October 23 and the organisers have approached us to get the area cleaned as the procession has to go through this route,” said Jai Inder Singh.
The vacant plot in question, covering 2.16 acre, was transferred by the Jalandhar development authority to the public works department (PWD) in 2016 for building a multi-skill development centre. The project, however, is yet to see the light of day. The adjoining areas have been earmarked for a hospital, to be developed on 1.48-acre area, and for a hostel, in an area of 1.43 acre.
Old deputy commissioner office in 7.44 acre, near Jyoti Chowk, is among the prime properties of the Jalandhar
› People dump waste on vacant plots. We lift garbage on daily basis from the Jalandhar development authority and the municipal corporation plots but the situation is same the next day.
DR SHRI KISHAN SHARMA, senior health officer, Jalandhar MC
development authority but has now been turned into a secondary dump site. Garbage is also dumped illegally outside Gandhi Vanita Ashram that is under the Jalandhar development authority.
“Even though we have communicated the matter to the municipal corporation a number of times but to no avail. I will take up the matter with the mayor,” the estate officer said.
HEALTH OFFICER DENIES ALLEGATIONS
Meanwhile, rubbishing the allegations and holding residents responsible for the garbage, MC senior health officer Dr Shri Kishan Sharma said, “People dump waste on vacant plots. Though, we lift garbage from different points on daily basis, whether its of the Jalandhar development authority or the municipal corporation, but the situation is still the same next day.”
“We have asked the Jalandhar development authority to build a boundary wall around its properties so that we can get rid of the problem,” the senior health officer said.