LUDHIANA: Over two years after the municipal corporation served notices on bulk waste generators for settlement of garbage at their level, a row has erupted between it and the mandi board officials.
The MC claimed that two years have passed since they started asking the mandi board to arrange for its waste, but it has not paid any heed to it.
The civic body had served notices on 31 institutions. All but the mandi board have made arrangements to tackle the waste. The bulk waste generators include hospitals, schools, universities, hotels and colleges that produce more than 100kg garbage. They were told to manage solid waste by composting.
Officials said the vegetable market daily produces at least 10 metric tonne of garbage and in the absence of a proper system, it remains in a mess. Under the Solid Waste Management Rules of 2016, establishments producing waste more than 100 kg in a day should segregate it and also install a compost plant. There is a provision of imposing a penalty of Rs 10,000 on defaulters.
As per MC officials, the city is gradually turning into a big garbage dump as 1,100 tonne of trash is produced daily. The officials are expecting to reduce total garbage production of the city by 30%.
Medical officer Vipul Malhotra said, “We were continuously asking the bulk waste generators to make arrangements. The mandi board officials are yet to act despite the fact that the vegetable market produces garbage in bulk.”
Market committee secretary Vinod Kumar said, “We are in the process of getting a system installed and final inspections are complete. We are expecting a response from the state government in 10 days. Earlier, A2Z waste management company was lifting garbage from the premises, but now they have stopped doing it.”