The disputed properties under the Amritsar Improvement Trust are gradually turning into dumps in the absence of any checks required to safeguard these from encroachments. Several key properties in prime residential locations have become local landfill sites, thanks to irresponsible dumping by residents and lack of law enforcement.
The vacant plot opposite the District Red Cross Society’s office has been repeatedly violated by regular dumping. Despite the Improvement Trust’s efforts to safeguard it by building a boundary wall, the plot has fallen a prey to irresponsible dumping, as people have broken a side of the wall to create a passage. Similarly, the recent attempts made by NGO Voice of Amritsar to clean and beautify a vacant plot near the Race Course Road roundabout have backfired, as the area has once again been littered with heaps of garbage. The NGO had also put up video surveillance and a caution notice board to check dumping.
Sandeep Rishi, chairman, Amritsar Improvement Trust, said the problem is persisting, as the properties in question are all disputed and so they do not have legal powers to check or issue challans to the violators. “Most of our properties in the city that are disputed have been turned into local dumping grounds. The problem is that we do not have legal powers to issue challans to the violators as only the Corporation can do so. Despite that, we try to build some kind of periphery to secure these plots from encroachments but since the decision is still pending in the court of law, we can only wait for the right time.”
Meanwhile, heaps of garbage have become a regular sight, despite the MC’s claims of reinforcing the city’s sanitary upkeep through technological infrastructure. The processing plant project still hangs fire and lack of regular checking from the staff has failed to keep the roads clean.
Resource: http://www.tribuneindia.com
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