Residents, commuters fume as garbage piles up on Airport Road

Heaps of garbage on Airport Road near Udham Singh Colony have been troubling commuters and local residents alike. The residents claim that the garbage, which has not been lifted for days, has been giving off a foul smell, with the peak summers making matters worse.

“Garbage has been piling on for two days, making it impossible to pass through the area. This reflects the state of GMADA, and the Mohali Municipal Corporation. What impression would visitors get of Mohali upon seeing this trash?” said BS Dhillon, a TDI City resident.

While Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh is organising campaigns against dengue and malaria, the garbage not being lifted paints a picture of neglect in this regard.

Residents rue that top officials are not doing enough to resolve the issue.

On June 10, GMADA Chief Administrator Vishesh Sarangal had deputed junior engineer-level officials in various sectors after complaints regarding inadequate upkeep of infrastructure, cleanliness and overall sanitation in GMADA-developed sectors.

Sarangal had acknowledged GMADA’s responsibility to maintain cleanliness in the areas developed by it.

However, residents claim the issue of sanitation is turning from bad to worse, with no solution in sight.

Kulbir Singh Brar, another TDI City resident, said, “GMADA has just become a money collecting agency. Its job seems to be restricted to selling government land and pocketing the money. It cannot keep the city clean, and cannot provide a garbage disposal site to the MC.”

Several councillors, across party lines, have echoed similar sentiments. Ward 2 councillor Sukhdev Patwari said, “Cow dung can be spotted in Mataur village, but no one is cleaning it up.”

Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi said he had met GMADA officials and demanded that land be allotted for garbage dumping within the next 15 working days. Failing this, he would be forced to stage a protest outside the GMADA Chief Administrator’s office, he said.

Chandigarh