Though Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone for a project to develop Malhar Road into a smart stretch last month, the Municipal Corporation has failed to find a solution to two open garbage dumps on this road for the past five years.
Despite repeated complaints by the local shopkeepers, nothing has been done to remove the dumps.One of the dumps is located near a park. Foul smell emanating from the dumps irks the local shopkeepers and passersby. Whenever it rains, stink becomes unbearable.A member of the Malhar Road Shopkeepers Welfare Association claimed they had complained to the MC authorities and their elected representatives multiple times, but to no avail.
If the MC has no space to shift these dumps, the officials should prefer to set up dumps outside its offices instead of allowing these on roads. Moreover, the MC should purchase land away from markets and residential areas to set up garbage dumps.”Now, a project Smart Street Phase 1 – Malhar Road (Rs 22.75 crore) has been announced to make it a smart stretch.
Under this project, it is proposed to introduce smart utilities, road diet, shared pathways, regulated parking and other smart concept as per the mission guidelines. The project is also aimed at providing adequate streetscape elements, such as street lights, way-finding and parking signage, garbage bins, zone for vendors, bus shelters, public toilets. The shopkeepers said the civic body should remove the dumps on a priority basis before starting the project.
Source – Tribune
