Punjab sanitation authority on cards

The provincial government has decided to set up a Punjab waste management authority with more powers than the companies serving currently at the city level.

According to sources, officers from the law, local government and finance departments have started consultations for legislation to set up the authority and the bill is likely to be introduced soon in the Punjab Assembly. Offices of the authority will be set up at the divisional headquarters in the first phase. It will have the powers of imposing and collecting garbage taxes and punishing those who spread litter in the cities. Other major cities will be brought under the new authority in the second phase after its establishment.

The Punjab government has reportedly given the green signal to form the waste management authority at the provincial level with extensive powers. Professional officers and employees will be recruited to run the authority. The system will be implemented across Punjab in phases. The Lahore Waste Management Company is carrying out the work of maintaining cleanliness and collecting garbage in the provincial capital after taking over the responsibility from foreign companies.

The provincial government appears satisfied with its performance. In view of the success of the operation, allocation of billions of rupees has been approved for the purchase of new vehicles and other equipment. At the same time, repair of old vehicles and equipment is under way. More than 9,000 new garbage containers are being installed, which is also helping improve the city’s sanitation system.

However, the waste management company faces several problems due to restrictions on imposing garbage collection charges, quick decision making, allocation of funds, a lengthy process of recruitment of employees, non-payment of fees and lack of power to take action against those who spread litter in the city. In view of the problems, the government has decided to set up the Punjab waste management authority to empower the company and the proposal has reportedly been approved by Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

Local Government Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal has started work on the directives of chief minister in this regard and held a series of meetings with the officers of the law, finance and other departments. Under the plan, the authority will have its head office in Lahore, from where the operations in the entire province will be controlled. A chairperson will head the Punjab waste management authority with a chief executive officer (CEO) serving under him along with officials at the divisional level. Managers, deputy managers, supervisors and in-charges of different departments within the authority will be appointed.

After setting up offices at the divisional level, the authority will be extended to other cities, including Sialkot, Gujrat, Kasur, and Jhelum in Phase-II. Legal consultations are under way regarding the formation of the authority. The sources said a proposal was under consideration to remove the condition that the chairman of the Waste Management Company would not be appointed on a political basis. District management group officers may be appointed as CEO and heads of finance, human resource and other departments.

The sources said the waste management authority would have its own mechanism for imposing punishment, including fine, like the Food Authority. LWMC CEO Rafia Haider told The Express Tribune that Eidul Azha was the first major occasion after the departure of the foreign contractors and the company had successfully cleared Lahore in a timely manner with the full cooperation of the provincial government, Local Government Minister Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed and Secretary Noorul Amin Mengal.

“We are trying our best to provide the best sanitation facilities to the people of Lahore by utilising the resources we have. Because of better performance, Punjab government gave Eid bonus to employees. Many problems will be solved by forming the authority,” she added.

When contacted, Mengal said the Punjab government wanted to further empower the company to solve some problems and create a better sanitation system across the province, for which work was under way. It is expected that the waste management company will be made an authority after fulfilling all the legal requirements.