Before CS visit, Faridkot admn pitches tents to ‘hide’ garbage

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, November 10

For the visit of Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan today, the district administration and municipal authorities here installed boards with “rosy” pictures and tents to hide the garbage strewn near the entrance gates of educational institutions and on the main roads of the town.

Three days back, the municipal authorities had directed all garbage collectors not to collect the garbage from residential and commercial areas so that heaps were not created at these places.

Official clarifies

Amrit Lal, executive officer of the Municipal Committee, Faridkot, said halting collection of garbage was a routine exercise and the garbage dumps were covered in view of Diwali

Amrit Lal, executive officer of the Municipal Committee (MC), Faridkot, said halting collection of garbage was a routine exercise and the garbage dumps were covered in view of Diwali, but residents alleged it was an attempt at hiding the real picture of the town.

“The MC is unable to dispose of the garbage and heaps of filth can be seen in every nook and corner of the town. Rather, the MC authorities are setting these afire, thus generating highly poisonous gases,” said Mangat Arora, an advocate, in a complaint to Mahajan.

Recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had summoned senior officials of the Local Bodies Department after a resident of Faridkot filed a writ petition alleging dumping of garbage in front of an educational institute.

Making his case on a garbage dumping place situated near the entrance gate of the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET), the complainant alleged the MC was using the place for the collection of garbage and setting it on fire which caused air pollution, fire and smoke, much to the inconvenience of students and teachers.