Sanitation drive by local MLAs fails to make little impact in Amritsar

Over the past few weeks, local MLAs and office-bearers of the ruling party, including the Chairman of Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), have made headlines for launching sanitation drives across the city. Posing with brooms, and flanked by sanitation workers, these leaders have conducted multiple cleanliness campaigns in high-visibility areas like city markets and intersections. However, a ground-level reality check tells a different story, one of non-lifting of garbage and foul stench.

During a visit to several areas in the city, it becomes evident that the sanitation drives have made little impact beyond few stretches cleaned just for photo opportunities. Heaps of garbage were found lying just a few metres from prominent locations like the Golden Temple and Jalebi Wala Chowk that attract thousands of tourists daily.

The sight outside the historic Ahluwalia Fort in Katra Ahluwalia was equally disheartening with plastic waste littering the place. Similar scenes were witnessed in Shastri Colony, the DAV Police Public School lane, the Lawrence Road, the Mall Road, and Batala Road, where unattended trash has become an eyesore for residents and commuters.

Residents have expressed disappointment at the state of sanitation. Harjit, a resident from Shastri Colony, said, “Garbage near our house is lifted only once every few days. Ramesh Mehta, another resident, who owns a shop near the Lawrence Road, added, “The situation is worsening. Garbage bins are overflowing and the foul stench pervades the air. We’ve stopped expecting any real change from these symbolic drives.”

Despite the poor outcomes on the ground, MLAs have been actively participating in cleanliness campaigns, seemingly to showcase their commitment to urban hygiene. On July 26, MLA Ajay Gupta kicked off a cleanliness drive from the historic Jallianwala Bagh. A day later on July 27, MLA Jeevan Jot Kaur held a drive at Hussainpura Chowk, while Ajay Gupta continued similar activities at the Telephone Exchange and other interior markets.

On July 28, AIT Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu led a drive at SSSS Chowk and Dr Ajay Gupta conducted another campaign in Damganj. Earlier on April 30, Chairman Karamjit Singh Rintu had flagged off a sanitation drive at Khande Wala Chowk on Majitha Road.

Amritsar