PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) is planning to introduce a dedicated waste collection service for social and religious events such as weddings, birthday parties, community feasts and other gatherings. The initiative aims to help organisers manage waste generated during such events and prevent illegal dumping in vacant plots, rivers and drains.
Dehradun currently generates about 600 tonnes of waste daily, according to the officials. With the city’s population estimated at more than 10 lakh, the volume of waste produced during private and public events has also increased considerably. While some organisers arrange waste collection through municipal vehicles, others dispose of garbage improperly, creating sanitation concerns.
Under the proposed plan, MCD will constitute five Quick Response Teams (QRTs), one for each municipal zone, including Rajpur, Arcadia, Mothrowala and Harrawala. Each team will consist of six members, including a supervisor and five sanitation workers. These teams will be responsible for collecting waste from event venues and handling emergency sanitation requirements.
Organisers will be required to inform the municipal corporation about their event either through the control room or by visiting the office and paying a nominal service fee. Once registered, the responsibility of lifting the waste will rest with the corporation.
At present, the MCD does not have dedicated teams for waste collection from special events. Employees and vehicles from regular sanitation operations are often diverted to such locations, affecting routine cleaning work. The new QRTs will help maintain regular sanitation services while ensuring timely waste disposal at event sites.
Dehradun municipal commissioner Alok Kumar Pandey said that the initiative is aimed at making waste management easier for residents while keeping the city clean. He added that the dedicated teams will ensure that organisers no longer have to worry about post-event garbage collection.
