In Kapurthala, the Deputy Commissioner has invoked emergency provisions of the Punjab Municipal Act, 1911, to address a critical disruption in sanitation services caused by a strike among Safai Karamcharis. The move aims to prevent a potential public health crisis stemming from accumulated waste in five urban local bodies.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the orders, issued under Sections 233 and 234 of the Act, are applicable to the Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats of Sultanpur Lodhi, Begowal, Bholath, Nadala, and Dhilwan. The indefinite suspension of work by sanitation workers has resulted in significant garbage accumulation, raising concerns about health and hygiene.
The Deputy Commissioner, Akash Bansal, emphasized the urgency of the situation, particularly with the ongoing monsoon season. He stated that clogged drains and unhygienic conditions could exacerbate the risk of water-borne and vector-borne diseases. Citing the scenario as a public health emergency, Mr. Bansal has directed the Executive Officers of the affected urban local bodies to immediately arrange for the collection, transportation, and scientific disposal of the accumulated waste.
To swiftly restore essential services, the Executive Officers are empowered to engage contractual agencies, outsource manpower, hire necessary vehicles and machinery, or redeploy staff from other government departments. A key directive includes prioritizing cleaning operations in sensitive areas such as hospitals, dispensaries, schools, markets, bus stands, water bodies, and drains, where high footfall increases the risk of disease transmission.
In addition to sanitation measures, the Deputy Commissioner has instructed the Civil Surgeon and the District Health Officer to collaborate with the Executive Officers on intensified preventive health initiatives. These include implementing anti-larval operations, widespread fogging, and conducting disinfection and chlorination activities in vulnerable locations. Health authorities have also been directed to ensure sufficient stock of essential medicines and maintain robust emergency medical preparedness to respond to any health-related exigencies.
The financial burden for these emergency sanitation arrangements will be borne by the Municipal Funds of the respective Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. Officials have been mandated to maintain meticulous records and accounts of all expenditures incurred, which will be submitted for post-facto ratification. This ensures transparency and accountability in the utilization of public funds during the emergency.
Furthermore, the Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Bholath and Sultanpur Lodhi, along with the Executive Officers of the affected urban local bodies, are required to submit daily progress reports. These reports will detail the status of garbage clearance, the specific areas covered by sanitation drives, and any operational challenges encountered. The emergency orders are slated to remain in effect until normal sanitation services are fully restored or until further directives are issued by the administration.
The Chenab Times News Desk