Five months after Swachh survey shame, Muktsar sees no improvement in sanitation
MUKTSAR: The administration of Muktsar appears to have learnt little even five months after the town figured at the 428th place rank among of 434 cities and towns of India covered under the annual Swachh survekshan (cleanliness survey).
Home turf of two former chief ministers, the town continues to have heaps of garbage at various spots. The designated dumping site is already brimming over. Stray animals, too, continue to be a threat to motorists in particular.
This, when Muktsar has also come under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).
When contacted, Harpal Singh Bedi, president of the municipal council, said, “There is a dearth of sweepers. Earlier, we had 200 sweepers but now the number has reduced to 70-80.”
He claimed, “Paucity of funds is also a problem as we have not received any funds from the new government,” but added, “We are recruiting new staff shortly.”
Rajneesh Goyal, MC executive officer, said, “I have been transferred from Muktsar. The work of taking 10 acres of land on lease for a dumping site is under process. We have also passed tenders for big containers for collecting garbage.” Asked about imposing fines on people, Goyal said, “No one is fined yet.”
“The district administration is not serious about cleanliness in the city as nothing much has improved in five months after the survey,” said Jasveer Singh of local NGO Sikh Virsa Council.
This NGO is trying to create awareness among residents and has carried out cleanliness drives too. Its activists even dumped garbage in front of the MC office as protest recently, but to no avail.