Sundergaon collaborates to escape ugly garbage woes

GANGTOK, 10 April: Residents of Sundergaon and its surrounding areas, situated below Daragaon-Tadong, have worked out a solution to rid themselves of the problems related to garbage disposal, which they have been suffering for the past month.
A meeting of the residents held yesterday with the Gangtok Mayor, KN Topgay, accompanied by Deputy Mayor, Shakti Singh, area Councilor, Bhaskar Basnet, Syari Councilor, Laki Bhutia and ex-panchayat, Manoj Pradhan resolved that a vehicle and two labourers will be provided by the GMC. To reach the collected garbage to the vehicle will be the responsibility of the residents.

The garbage disposal problem for Sundergaon residents began, when “Golden Circle” which has been providing the service for the last three years, discontinued its services around a month back. The initiative was first launched by the Daragaon Environment Committee [DEC], which later handed it over to the Golden Circle.
Yesterday’s meeting handed over the responsibilities to the DEC again. During the meeting, it was further decided that the responsibility will be handed over to the interested educated unemployed youth of the area.
At present, the service has to be extended to around 500 households and Rs. 50 per month is to be collected from every household. It was also disclosed that only 75% of the households were already paying the said amount regularly.
During the meeting, the Mayor announced that strict action will be taken against those found dumping garbage at unauthorized sites. The councilor, Mr. Basnet assured that he will step forward if any problem arises whether it relates to garbage or monthly fee collection.