DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

With monsoon season just around the corner, a special meeting of UT Environment Standing Committee (ESC) was held to review preparedness to counter the rain fury that wreaked havoc in Chandigarh and its peripheral areas during monsoon season last year.

During the meeting, MP Rajya Sabha and Chairman of UT Environment Standing Committee, Satnam Singh Sandhu advised the senior officials of Chandigarh Administration to make sure that all requisite measures are in place in advance in wake of impending rainy season.

MP Satnam Sandhu expressed concern on the action taken on the damage caused by the rain during monsoon season last year and advised UT administration officials of different departments to prepare Action Taken Report based on the issues discussed during previous meetings of ESC; as to what all challenges were faced by the administration in addressing rain-induced damage caused in Chandigarh and adjacent villages during monsoon season last year and how can these be tackled in future (preparation for upcoming monsoon season)

"Special attention must be given to the villages that suffered maximum damage during the rain fury last year. The residents of adjacent villages to UT feel left out when it comes to providing them with basic amenities; officials of concerned departments must identify the loopholes and devise a comprehensive strategy to plug them,"

added Sandhu.

Notably, when rain ravaged several parts of the city beautiful and its peripheral areas (adjacent villages) during the monsoon season last year, MP Satnam Sandhu along with officials from different departments had visited rain-affected areas and assessed the situation at the ground level and oversaw the ongoing maintenance work.

After listening to the grievances of the affected residents, Sandhu instructed the concerned officials to address the issues of the public immediately and provide all the required assistance for their return to normal life.

"A detail action plan (DAP) be prepared to address various environmental issues including solid liquid and clinical waste management, harvesting of water and tertiary treated water, strict implementation of ban on polythene/plastic carry bags, impact studies on camps and visits to forest, enhancing the area under plantation on available spaces, national schemes announced by Prime Minister of India, Union Environment Ministers, cleanliness and beautification of the areas falling on the outskirts of Chandigarh. There is issue of poor sanitation measures in peripheral villages to UT as there is no mechanism or proper provision for the same it. The sanitation system in these areas is not good and needs to be improved. The water from many drains not getting treated properly and entering water channels thereby contaminating them; this is a grave concern and must be countered on priority by concerned departments" further added by Sandhu.

Talking about solid waste management, Satnam Singh Sandhu advised that a detailed action plan be prepared wherein there is a step wise planning to improve the health of the areas falling on the outskirts of Chandigarh (village areas falling within the jurisdiction of UT Chandigarh) waste management, clean water supply, plantations. As per UT administration's records, presently Chandigarh has achieved 97 percent segregation of solid waste at source and efforts are on achieve the target of 100 percent segregation.
(editor@dailyworld.in)