In absence of NGT directions on waste mgmt, biz goes on as usual

Ludhiana: Though clear directions about the revised deadline for implementation of Solid Waste Management Rules-2016 are yet to be announced by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), at the ground level not many things have changed since the first deadline of March 31 fixed by the tribunal.

Whether source segregation, door to door garbage collection or settlement of waste, things remain the same.

The officials, however, blamed the prevailing conditions due to coronavirus as they are unable to move freely in field and check door to door for the implementation. They claimed residents should support the civic body in making this drive successful.

The last meeting of the NGT panel was held on February 13 and the committee members had passed the instructions to the officials for fulfilment of all works as per the NGT guidelines. Earlier, from April 1, the civic body was supposed to pay Rs10 lakh per month for its failure in implementing the action plan. Even the erring officials were supposed to face action. Though it was only a week left to the deadline when the lockdown was announced due to coronavirus cases, it gave a chance to the civic body officials to seek more time for finishing the tasks. The civic body still needs to work in these fields.

100% door-to-door garbage collection

In papers almost in 97% of areas door-to-door garbage collection is taking place but most of the garbage is being lifted through private garbage collectors while private company A2Z waste management Limited is only carrying out garbage collection in 35% area of the city. A2Z was hired in 2011 and despite several attempts the company could not reach out to people in all areas.

The sources revealed that the civic body had virtually bowed down to the pressure of various unions of MC employees, which raised a hue and cry against this decision. Even in the NGT this issue was taken up and the MC had showed helplessness in helping out the firm in this case. However, the company has also requested the civic body to remove the term door-to-door garbage collection from their agreement as it is not working out.

The informal sector is not regular in lifting garbage from households and there is no suitable timing when they will lift the garbage. Moreover, there are no fixed charges as rates for garbage collection vary from area to area. As compared to this, A2Z is charging Rs 50 per house.

A resident of Civil Lines, Karamjit Singh, said, “The private garbage collectors come three days in a week and they ask for at least Rs 100 per household and festivals are additional burden on residents.” He said the garbage collectors come very early in the morning as they have some other works to do during the day, so in case one is not able to wake up early then garbage will not be lifted from his house that day and in case garbage collector does not come the next day then the problem aggravates all the more. He said there was need to make things uniform.

100% source segregation

Before lockdown the civic officials had started a special drive to implement the source segregation in the entire city. At secondary garbage collection points too wet and dry waste was being thrown separately. However, now during Covid-19 times, regular checking came to an end and residents also returned to their earlier routine. The source segregation at some of the garbage dumps is also not properly done. There is provision to impose penalty on those residents who are unable to do source segregation but till date officials did not implement the same. After lockdown the checking in some of areas was conducted but without any strict action against violators.

Rs 100 crore hurdle in treating legacy waste

The NGT has directed the civic body to treat legacy waste as well. The civic body officials got the survey done at Jamalpur garbage dump to check quantity of waste and it was found to be close to 16 lakh tonnes. The officials claimed that it would require at least Rs 100 crore to settle this waste where they have to separate the sand and RDF lying together for the past so many years. The officials further claimed that like Ludhiana, cities like Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala are also doing the same thing and now they are looking for the best model that can be adopted. The previous deadline for settling the legacy waste was April 2021.

No action against illegal dairies

The NGT committee members had asked the civic body officials to seal the illegal dairy units as soon as possible. The officials had identified 197 such units in residential areas and served the dairy owners notices to stop their business but nothing happened. Requesting anonymity, one of the officials claimed that they had served the notices, but after that coronavirus scare happened and everything came to a standstill.

Meanwhile, when asked about the ongoing issues, the secretary of the MC, Neeraj Jain, said, “Things were going on smoothly and we had covered almost all things but due to coronavirus the staff got busy in sanitisation and distribution of ration.” He said they could not achieve anything unless the residents do not mend their ways and support the civic body in making this city neat and clean. He further said the deadlines would be revised, but they were yet to receive anything from the NGT or committee members. Only after that they could chalk out the next course of action.