Mohali, June 17: Heaps of garbage lying unattended on Airport Road near Udham Singh Colony have sparked public outrage, with residents and commuters fuming over foul smells and worsening sanitation amid soaring summer temperatures.
Locals say garbage has not been lifted for over two days, blocking parts of the road and making it nearly impossible to pass. “This reflects the true state of GMADA and the Mohali Municipal Corporation. What image does this trash leave on visitors?” said BS Dhillon, a resident of TDI City.
Even as Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh pushes campaigns against vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria, the unattended waste paints a stark contrast, residents said.
On June 10, GMADA Chief Administrator Vishesh Sarangal deputed junior engineers in various sectors following complaints about poor sanitation and infrastructure upkeep. Sarangal had acknowledged GMADA’s responsibility to maintain cleanliness in its developed areas. But residents say the reality remains grim.
“GMADA has become a mere land-selling agency. It can’t even provide a garbage disposal site,” said Kulbir Singh Brar, another TDI City resident.
Several councillors, cutting across party lines, have voiced similar concerns. Ward 2 Councillor Sukhdev Patwari highlighted that even basic cleanliness was missing in Mataur village, where cow dung remains uncleared.
Deputy Mayor Kuljit Singh Bedi said he had urged GMADA to allot land for a garbage dumping site within 15 working days, warning that he would protest outside the GMADA Chief Administrator’s office if the demand wasn’t met.
