Chandigarh, September 1, 2020 (Yes Punjab News)
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal today expressed shock at the callous manner in which the Congress government had neglected the holy city of Sri Amritsar Sahib which had been ranked amongst the ten filthiest cities in the country. He demanded a high level probe to identify the culprits responsible for defiling the name of the holy city globally, saying the city was being discriminated against under Congress tenure.
In a statement here, Mr Sukhbir Badal said it was shocking that the Swachh Survekshan rankings had revealed that cleanliness in the walled city comprising Sri Harmandar Sahib was the worst with sewerage facilities being choked and there being no planned system of garbage collection. “The survey has also revealed that 15 lakh tonnes of legacy waste has accumulated at the city’s Bhagtanwala dump near Sri Harmandar Sahib”.
Stating that this state of affairs as well as the Swachh Survekshan ratings undertaken under the Swachh Bharat mission would have a detrimental effect on the image of the holy city internationally, the SAD President called upon the Congress government to probe corruption in use of funds meant for the holy city. He also called for immediate approvals for all pending infrastructure work as well as procurement of more modern machinery needed for cleaning and disposing garbage.
Mr Badal said it was shame that the holy city, which was a pilgrim spot for lakhs of people on a daily basis and which was one of the most visited cities in the country, was being neglected in this manner. He said he had been constantly highlighting how the Congress government was discriminating against the holy city and how cleanliness had been given the go by in the case of the Heritage Street.
“I have myself also cleaned the street on occasions to send a message to the government to maintain this prestigious project but it does not seem to have had any effect on the Congress government. Garbage piles keep lying unattended making them eyesores for visitors who come from across the globe”.
The SAD President said it was shocking that the Congress government was unable to ensure even systematic garbage collection and disposal. He said the city had also failed to go in for solid waste management by segregating wet and dry garbage. “Congress leaders are openly complaining of lack of funds for maintaining civic amenities but I feel there is a lack of will also. This is why even green belts are unkept and water and sewerage connections are not being provided to public toilets”.
Stating that the SAD would not sit idle and allow this state of affairs to continue, Mr Sukhbir Badal said the SAD would initiate a campaign to force the government to provide optimum civic facilities to the holy city.
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