The Garhwal Commissioner Dilip Javalkar pulled up officials of the Pauri municipal council for the poor level of civic sanitation in the town. While inspecting various areas of Pauri on the weekend, the Commissioner expressed dissatisfaction at garbage littering public space at different locations including the picnic spot at Mandakhal.
Observers opine that the first such inspection by the Garhwal commissioner of the sanitation level in Pauri has exposed the efficiency of the municipal authority in ensuring proper garbage disposal and civic sanitation.
Javalkar found garbage littered near the dust bins and mismanagement of garbage disposal also at the picnic spots in the woods of Adwani and Mandakhal areas.
He directed the officials concerned to ensure that garbage containers placed in different areas are regularly emptied. Measures like installation of CCTV cameras should also be undertaken to address issues like littering, encroachment and law and order issues in public places.
He also said that a body should be formed of people who can motivate the public for cleanliness. Officials of the district administration, municipal council and forest department also accompanied the commissioner on his inspection of various areas of Pauri.
During his visit to regional headquarter Pauri some days ago, the commissioner had remarked that the authorities appeared to be apathetic to the garbage strewn along the roads in Pauri town. Although the people of Pauri have largely started dumping garbage at the sites designated by the municipal council, the garbage thus collected is reportedly dumped in gorges and wooded areas by the authorities.
Many of the local residents allege that due to the attitude of the Pauri municipal council chairman, the problem of garbage has not been resolved here for about three years now. About three years ago, the National Green Tribunal had also directed that the municipal council should ensure scientific garbage disposal but this direction is not being followed as required, the locals complain. They hope that the Garhwal commissioner will take serious cognisance of the garbage woes of Pauri.