Five months on, smart bins remain non-operational in Jalandhar

Although it’s been over five months since the Jalandhar municipal corporation installed smart bins near TV tower, the bins still lay non-operational.

Although it’s been over five months since the Jalandhar municipal corporation installed smart bins near TV tower, the bins still lay non-operational.

The non­functional smart bins opposite the TV centre in Jalandhar on Monday. (HT Photo)

The semi-ground was set up with an aim to manage the waste in an eco-friendly manner but the heaps of garbage can be seen lying around the dustbins, defying its sole purpose.

When contacted Dr Shri Kishan Sharma, assistant medical officer (AMO), he said the cleanliness workers and locals, in general, are unable to throw the garbage in dustbins due to dangling wires above the bins.

The official said that though on many occasions, they have asked Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to remove wires from the area but the latter is yet to take any step in this regard.

As the wires are abandoned, people don’t go near the bins out of fear. The locals in the area, with no option left, are now dumping garbage outside the bins.

Notably, TV tower area is one of the major points of the city.

As the part of the pilot project, the municipal corporation had set up semi-ground garbage bins in two places of the city, one at ward number 5 which is mayor Sunil Jyoti’s ward and another, adjacent to the TV centre.

“We will hopefully get the wires put aside this week,” said an official.