MCG’s claims on segregating waste raises eyebrows

The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG), which has always faced criticism over the treatment of garbage in the city, is now actively promoting the segregation of waste for effective disposal of garbage.

The initiative by the MCG is done in view of the drive that will be conducted by the Central government which will be ranking the cities based on cleanliness.

Titled Swachh Sarvekshan (cleanliness survey) the drive will begin on January 4, 2017.

There is a lot at stake for Gurugram this time as previously it fared badly being ranked at 466 out of 476 cities in levels of cleanliness.

Even as MCG sounds optimistic that this move will allow citizens to effectively segregate waste generated in their homes and thereby allow effective disposal by the MCG, not many seem to be impressed by the claims of the MCG.

Most of the environmental activists and members of residents welfare associations have cited that even as MCG has made lofty claims, there has been nothing which has been done by its officials in tackling the challenge of the mounting garbage at Bandhwari landfill site. Further, the critics also claim that there is no stoppage of the open burning of garbage in the city and throwing of garbage in vacant plots.

“For four years, there has been no action by the MCG in treatment of garbage at the Bandhwari landfill sites. There are 90 trucks that come daily from Faridabad and Gurugram to dump garbage. Ironically, the 30-acre site which was carved out from the Aravallis was to be used as a waste recycling site. From 2013, it has only been reduced to a waste dumping site by the MCG. Worse, the MCG commissioner was also thinking at one point of time to extend the area,” said Amina Shervani, a city environmental activist.

“The steps of segregation of waste is now new and have been carried out earlier by various societies and RWAs. They did not get support of the MCG that time citing various excuses, what new steps have now been added by MCG,” asked Shervani.