For more than two years, a crucial piece of waste management infrastructure in Ludhiana has been rendered completely useless due to a glaring planning oversight. A static waste compactor installed in the city's Books Market remains non-operational because low-hanging electricity wires block the entrance, preventing garbage collection vehicles from accessing the site.
Planning Failure Halts Critical Machinery
The compactor, intended to streamline solid waste collection, has never served its purpose. The core issue is that hook loader vehicles, needed to empty the large garbage containers, cannot enter the premises without risking severe damage to the overhead wires. Chief Sanitary Officer Ashwani Sahota confirmed the machine's non-functional status, warning that sending the high-reaching vehicles inside could damage the wires and potentially cause a serious accident.
This situation highlights a clear case of inter-departmental failure and poor coordination. The negligence of the Buildings & Roads (B&R) branch is evident, as officials reportedly overlooked the presence of these electricity wires during the initial construction and installation phase over two years ago. Despite the problem being identified, the Municipal Corporation has been unable to get the wires lifted by Powercom, the state electricity department.
MC Executive Engineer Balwinder Singh expressed helplessness, noting the frustrating irony that while an electricity connection for the compactor was finally installed after a long delay, the machine itself remains unusable due to the very same department's infrastructure.
Cascading Effects on City's Waste Management
The failure of this single compactor has created a ripple effect, disrupting waste management across a wider area. Garbage originally destined for the Books Market site, particularly from the busy Chaura Bazaar, is now being diverted to other compactor locations. This has increased pressure on sites like Khwaja Kothi Chowk and Manna Singh Nagar.
The consequences are visible on the ground:
- Long queues of garbage collection vehicles waiting at other compactor sites.
- Increased disorder and inefficiency in waste collection routes.
- The idle Books Market site has reportedly become a hub for illegal activities due to neglect.
Municipal officials have also cited broader challenges, including public opposition that forced the relocation of some planned compactor sites. They admit that the existing machinery is insufficient to handle the total solid waste generated by Ludhiana, making the non-functioning of even one unit a significant setback.
A Stark Symbol of Systemic Issues
The story of the Books Market compactor is more than an isolated incident; it is a stark symbol of systemic planning failures and lack of inter-departmental coordination in urban governance. The investment lies wasted, the intended service is not delivered, and the city's sanitation efforts are compromised. The resolution now hinges on urgent action between the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation and Powercom to finally lift the wires and allow the long-dormant machine to start working.
