The mounds of garbage littering streets, parks and residential areas have almost acquired the proverbial “heritage status”, and a city-based city-based civil society group on Sunday went the extra mile, organising a ‘selfie and photoshoot drive’ to ensure that the administration realised the same.
With the group posting pictures with the garbage, as if it were a tourist attraction the city could boast about, near Haibowal Bridge and around Chattar Singh Park dump, the municipal corporation was awoken from its torpor, and within hours earthmovers had been dispatched to the areas to remove the garbage.
The activists from Action Group Against Plastic Pollution and PAC for Sutlej and Mattewara organised the photoshoot, after their requests failed to spur the MC officials into action.
PAC for Sutlej and Mattewara member Jaskirat Singh said, “Normally, the officers blame politicians for mismanagement and corruption in the department. However, after polling, the government is being run by bureaucrats. However, the situation on ground remains unchanged. By this selfie protest, we stive to improve waste management in the city.”
The areas, which had been cleaned after the selfie protest last week such as the garbage dump at Gill Bridge and SBS Nagar, were also checked and were found to be much cleaner than last week.
{{/usCountry}}The areas, which had been cleaned after the selfie protest last week such as the garbage dump at Gill Bridge and SBS Nagar, were also checked and were found to be much cleaner than last week.
{{/usCountry}}“Government agencies such as the municipal corporation and PPCB are responsible for enforcing bans on plastics and creating plans and policies. We hope municipal authorities will take this criticism in the right spirit,” said Kuldip Singh Khaira, another social activist.
For his involvement in highlighting the rampant corruption in government departments, particularly the civic body, Khaira has allegedly been assaulted in the past.