MC to keep record of horticulture waste; work on compost pits

Ludhiana: In order to check the quantum of green waste being generated in the city, the civic officials have now started maintaining records of the same. The municipal corporation (MC) will measure the horticulture waste being collected from the city, so as to prepare an estimate of the total waste being produced. Currently, the MC is clueless about the total quantity.
Recently, about 68 compost pits were installed by the MC in three city parks, and they would gradually install more pits across the city.
The officials claimed they had also inquired other local bodies and departments whether and how they measured the quantum of waste being produced, but they found out this record wasn’t being kept by anyone. Hence, the MC will maintain a special record book to check how the quantity of waste being produced in the city increases and decreases yearly, so as to better manage the waste.
More than three years have passed since officials started working on settling the horticulture waste according to the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) as well as the Swachh Bharat Mission. The NGT had clearly stated that horticulture waste should not be deposited in the landfills and should instead be disposed of in parks by creating composting pits.
There are about 870 public parks in the city and out of these, over 600 parks were handed over to various park management committees. The civic officials had earlier experimented with compost pits in parks like Rose Garden and Leisure Valley. They had recently created 24 pits in Leisure Valley near Sidhwan waterfront, 24 in Lodhi Club Road greenbelt, and 20 in Leisure Valley near railway underbridge at Pakhowal Road. Now, the waste being generated in these parks will be disposed of within these parks. But in many parks, the managing committees refused to install the pits.
Besides, in some parks, temporary arrangements were done for the waste, but the waste is seldomly collected from these points and it keeps on lying there for a long time.
The sub-divisional officer (SDO) of horticulture wing of the MC, Kripal Singh said, “We have asked the staff to maintain records of horticulture waste and new compost pits being created for the proper disposal of waste.”
Burning dry leaves, other waste a big issue
In spring and autumn, the dry leaves and other waste can be seen lying on roads and in parks, and most of the time people burn those leaves which creates pollution. Still, people are habitual of burning dry leaves or branches to get rid of this waste. According to NGT guidelines, burning of any type of waste is punishable and a fine ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 can be imposed on those found guilty.
Waste takes 6 months to become manure
Notably, the waste being generated in the public parks has become a major problem for the civic officials. But with the help of these compost pits, the dry leaves and other green waste can be turned into manure in 6 months. The officials claimed that they made manure in Rose Garden and then used it to plant the saplings in the park. The officials claimed that organic manure was free from all types of chemicals, so it was better for plants.