PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Dehradun’s selection among 50 cities under the PRAGATI-50 initiative has yet to translate into visible improvements in cleanliness, with garbage dumping spots continuing to appear along roads and waste piling up at several locations across the city. This initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs seeks to improve urban cleanliness and waste management through key performance indicators, technology-enabled monitoring and regular reviews. Its focus areas include solid waste management, sanitation, visible cleanliness and citizen participation.
However, several gaps persist in Dehradun’s waste-management system. Of the three composting machines at the Kargi mechanised transfer station, only one is currently operational. Wet and dry waste is also being mixed at several points, while door-to-door garbage collection remains irregular in many areas. Residents continue to dump waste in rivers and drains. Enforcement against such violations remains a concern, with residents pointing to a lack of effective action and fines against those disposing of garbage in prohibited areas. Weak monitoring has further added to the problem.
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) also faces challenges in coordinating different stages of waste management, from collection and segregation to transportation and processing. Gaps at any stage affect the entire chain and make it difficult to ensure that waste is handled properly. The chief municipal health officer Dr Anand Shukla said that the system needs to be strengthened gradually, with clear responsibilities assigned at every level. “We have to connect everyone one by one and create a proper chain. Only then will there be some improvement otherwise, nothing is going to happen. Teams will have to be formed and people will have to take responsibility. Only then can the situation improve,” he said.
