‘Garbage war’ in this picturesque station of Himachal’s Dalhousie after panchayat-shopkeeper standoff
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The Newz Radar
CHAMBA: At Bagdhar in Dalhousie sub-division of Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh, the lack of coordination between panchayat authorities and local shopkeepers has led to the collapse of the garbage cleanliness system, leading to piles of garbage lying strewn all around in public spaces. And this is despite the panchayat’s allocation of Rs 2 lakh and the establishment of arrangements for daily garbage disposal from households and shops.
The designated garbage unit surprisingly remains unused. Bagadhar, the village serving as the panchayat headquarters, hosts a market alongside institutions like government senior secondary school, government primary school and Primary Health Centre.
The garbage lying in the open is now a common sight throughout the area. Panchayat Pradhan Byas Dev attributed the compromised cleanliness system to a lack of cooperation from local shopkeepers. However, shopkeepers claimed to have repeatedly requested for installation of dustbins from the panchayat, alleging that their pleas had gone unanswered, compelling them to dispose of waste in the open.
Meanwhile, despite the construction of a public toilet in the market, the residents have been unable to use it for the past four to five months due to a lack of water supply. Consequently, people are compelled to resort to open defecation. The residents have been urging the panchayat representatives to promptly address these issues, emphasising the need for effective and immediate intervention to restore a hygienic and sustainable environment.
