Chandigarh, Feb 20: Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has taken over the responsibility of waste collection from commercial establishments, assigning 100 specialized collectors to the task. The new system is designed to provide a world-class sanitation experience for the city’s markets and the Industrial Area, where traders have long complained about inadequate services and redundant costs.
The MC has assigned each of the 100 workers to specific zones covering approximately 200 shops each. These collectors will be integrated into the formal workforce with biometric monitoring. Finance and health benefits have also been standardized, as officials affirmed that the workers will receive periodic health check-ups alongside their monthly remuneration.
Mayor Saurabh Joshi noted that the primary goal is to resolve the issue of nocturnal garbage accumulation. He declared that waste generated at night will now be lifted the same night, keeping the streets clear for the next day’s business. The Mayor affirmed that the city is prioritizing a source-segregation model to improve overall processing efficiency.
“The MC alone cannot achieve a clean and healthy Chandigarh without the support of the people,” Commissioner Amit Kumar stated. He asserted that while the government is providing the infrastructure and personnel, the public must take responsibility for separating dry and wet waste at their shops and hotels.
The initiative is expected to save shopkeepers significant sums, as they will no longer need to hire private contractors for waste removal. The MC declared that it intends to absorb current informal collectors into the official scheme through a detailed market survey, ensuring that the transition to a formal system remains inclusive and supportive of the existing workforce.
