Latest news with #DehradunMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Garbage collection vehicles in Doon now just a call away
Dehradun: In a bid to improve waste management across the city, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has issued CUG (closed user group) phone numbers to its garbage vehicle drivers, allowing residents and ward councillors to coordinate with them more effectively. Dehradun currently generates over 450 metric tonnes of waste every day. On Tuesday, the DMC distributed CUG phones to 40 drivers across 25 wards. The phone numbers will also be displayed on the vehicles, making it easier for residents to contact the staff. According to officials, this initiative aims to reduce delays, improve accountability and ensure waste is collected reliably. In the past, irregular garbage collection often forced residents to dispose of waste in public spaces. By making contact details available, the DMC hopes to reduce littering, address grievances promptly, and further strengthen its waste management system. This is the first phase of the initiative, with more numbers to be allocated soon, officials said. The initiative comes after DMC took over door-to-door waste collection in Feb this year, following the failure of multiple private agencies to streamline the process. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Since then, the corporation claimed that waste collection has risen from 46% to 80% across the city, and the number of garbage collection vehicles has increased to 234, with an additional 50 to be introduced soon, said commissioner Namami Bansal. You Can Also Check: Dehradun AQI | Weather in Dehradun | Bank Holidays in Dehradun | Public Holidays in Dehradun Bansal said that starting July 1, the DMC will roll out a comprehensive overhaul of its waste management system. "The goal is to build an integrated system entirely managed by the civic body — reducing dependency on third-party vendors, cutting costs and making waste collection more efficient," she added. Dehradun: In a bid to improve waste management across the city, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) has issued CUG (closed user group) phone numbers to its garbage vehicle drivers, allowing residents and ward councillors to coordinate with them more effectively. Dehradun currently generates over 450 metric tonnes of waste every day. On Tuesday, the DMC distributed CUG phones to 40 drivers across 25 wards. The phone numbers will also be displayed on the vehicles, making it easier for residents to contact the staff. According to officials, this initiative aims to reduce delays, improve accountability and ensure waste is collected reliably. In the past, irregular garbage collection often forced residents to dispose of waste in public spaces. By making contact details available, the DMC hopes to reduce littering, address grievances promptly, and further strengthen its waste management system. This is the first phase of the initiative, with more numbers to be allocated soon, officials said. The initiative comes after DMC took over door-to-door waste collection in Feb this year, following the failure of multiple private agencies to streamline the process. Since then, the corporation claimed that waste collection has risen from 46% to 80% across the city, and the number of garbage collection vehicles has increased to 234, with an additional 50 to be introduced soon, said commissioner Namami Bansal. Bansal said that starting July 1, the DMC will roll out a comprehensive overhaul of its waste management system. "The goal is to build an integrated system entirely managed by the civic body — reducing dependency on third-party vendors, cutting costs and making waste collection more efficient," she added.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Uttarakhand residents question monsoon preparedness, claim recurring issues remain unaddressed
Dehradun: With the India Meteorological Department forecasting above-normal rainfall this monsoon, fears of landslides and flooding have escalated, particularly in the hill districts. Residents have raised concerns about choked drains, damaged roads and bridges, and a lack of pre-emptive measures, issues that remain unresolved despite recurring monsoon havoc. In Bageshwar, where landslides and waterlogging have become routine, locals say the administration has failed to act despite crores in losses each year. Key roads and bridges damaged in last year's rains remain in disrepair, and drainage systems in many areas are still inadequate. The situation is worsened by the formation of a temporary lake in the Shambhu River in Kapkot. Former district panchayat president Harish Aithani questioned the administration's readiness: "Even a short spell of rain covers roads with muck and sends boulders tumbling. This is their preparation? Even the drains haven't been cleaned." Citing a recent incident when a local on a scooter got injured after slipping on a mud-covered road, he added that "around five people" fall every day on the roads and despite complaints to the district magistrate, nothing has changed. District disaster management officer Shikha Suyal said 61 landslide-prone spots have been identified across 30 roads, and excavators will be stationed at these sites for emergency clearance. Last year alone, monsoon-related damages cost the district Rs 42 crore. District magistrate Ashish Bhatgain said an NDRF team is now stationed in Kapkot, with forest, police, and revenue teams on alert. In Dehradun, residents are frustrated that civic work continues right up to the start of monsoon, worsening waterlogging and traffic. Social activist Anoop Nautiyal pointed out that civic bodies continue to dig up roads instead of preparing for the rains. "We should have a system in place directing civic bodies to halt new work before the rains and start preparing. But they keep digging and then blame traffic jams, waterlogging, and bad roads on the rain," he said. Advocate Shiva Verma echoed similar concerns, saying key tasks like drain cleaning and retaining wall construction near the Bindal and Rispana rivers remain pending despite frequent flood deaths in these areas. In response, the Dehradun Municipal Corporation said over 16,000 tonnes of waste had been cleared from the Rispana and areas like ISBT are currently being overhauled. In Nainital, locals say safety continues to be sidelined in favour of beautification projects, even as the region's terrain grows more fragile. Multiple appeals to the chief minister's portal have reportedly gone unanswered. Landslides here continue to expose the limits of quick fixes. In Oct 2023, a major slide displaced 24 families in Nainital after which geo-bags were used as a temporary remedy, but the promised safety wall remains missing nearly two years later. A month later in Bhimtal, a landslide on Dhungshil hill underscored the failure of earlier check dam interventions. Locals are now demanding geological surveys and long-term reinforcement. Tourism infrastructure hasn't been spared either. In Aug 2024, a landslide triggered by a cloudburst wiped out Dorothy's Seat, popular as Tiffin Top, dealing a blow to the local economy. A section of the Naini Lake drain wall had also collapsed last year, and the temporary cement-bag fix failed quickly, further highlighting the pattern of patchwork solutions. These aren't isolated incidents. In 2018, a chunk of Lower Mall Road collapsed into the lake. Emergency repairs restored traffic, but a lasting solution never followed. Only after eight tenders and a cost escalation of Rs 70 lakh did a contractor finally agree to restore the stretch, though actual work is still pending. The Uttarakhand Landslide Mitigation and Management Centre (ULMMC) had launched a geo-database project in Dec 2024 to map high-risk zones like Balia Nala, Mall Road, and Naina Peak. But on the ground, locals say there is little to show for it. With the rains already underway, fresh risks have emerged. In Ramnagar, Friday's downpour caused the Dhangadhi drain to breach, flooding NH-309, a key route linking Kumaon and Garhwal. To prevent further disasters, Pithoragarh DM Vinod Kumar Goswami inspected the district disaster mitigation office and asked officials to bring down the 30-minute average response time. He directed teams to clear drains and culverts before the rains and position earthmovers at known slide zones. Contact details of remote employees were verified, satellite phones checked, and instructions passed to villagers and field staff. In Udham Singh Nagar, DM Nitin Singh Bhadauria held a high-level preparedness meeting on Friday, ordering all departments to remain on high alert for flooding and waterlogging. "No officer shall leave headquarters without permission, and phones must stay on at all times," he said, warning of strict action under the Disaster Management Act for non-compliance. Tehsils, police, and forest departments were told to ensure disaster-response equipment is ready. Drain cleaning must be completed without delay, and the irrigation department was asked to expedite river-channelisation and provide visual documentation. He also emphasised road safety audits, especially to remove hazardous roadside trees. All 29 flood outposts must be staffed round-the-clock, with 24x7 control rooms active at both district and tehsil levels. Medical officers were told to stock up on essential medicines and ensure ambulance readiness. Vulnerable villages must be monitored, shelters identified, and toilets, electricity, and water ensured. "No classes must be held in dilapidated school buildings," Bhadauria told the chief education officer. NDRF, SDRF, and SSB units have also been put on standby. Despite these efforts, the larger pattern remains unchanged, officials scramble each monsoon, but systemic reforms and permanent fixes remain elusive. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
08-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Kargi residents grapple with garbage overflow despite new transfer station
1 2 Dehradun: Despite a new mechanised waste transfer station at Dehradun's Kargi – built at a cost of Rs 8 crore to streamline waste processing and provide relief from waste accumulation issues – residents of the area continue to face severe civic problems as garbage is routinely dumped on the main road. Notably, trials at the automated transfer station were held in April and officials say transition to the fully mechanised system is happening gradually. Locals allege that vehicles of the municipal corporation, meant to collect and transport waste to the station, are unloading it in the open, outside the facility's designated boundary. "How can civic issues be addressed if waste is being openly dumped by corporation vehicles themselves? Vehicles remain lined up haphazardly as far as the eye can see," said Lave Chaudhary, a resident. Passersby and commuters on the Haridwar bypass road have also shared concerns about the management around the transfer station. "A month or two ago, garbage across the station spilled onto the main road. It was cleared for a few days, but waste has reappeared again. The road has become difficult to navigate, while the air remains foul several hundred metres away, not to mention stray animals rummaging through waste," said a passerby. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Didn't Anyone Tell You About This Power Saver? elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Pre-Order Undo The Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) had previously issued a notice in April to the collection agency responsible for dumping waste on the other side of the station and asked them to clear it up. Officials claim that most of it was moved into the station, contrary to claims of local residents. Chief health officer, Avinash Khanna, attributed the recent lapses to personnel shortage over the festival weekend. "Fresh dumping may have occurred over the weekend in an unauthorised manner. There was also a shortage in manpower due to it being Eid, but we will definitely look into it. Operations have become smoother compared to earlier," he said. Khanna added that a request for CCTV surveillance has already been raised along with plans on gating the area so that any illegal waste accumulation is avoided. Currently, Dehradun generates over 450 metric tonnes of waste daily that first goes to the Kargi transfer station and then to Sheeshambara trenching ground.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Clock Tower stops ticking again; original patron's kin raise concern
Dehradun: The iconic Clock Tower in Dehradun—one of the city's oldest landmarks—has stopped functioning once again amid ongoing beautification work. For the family that originally commissioned the structure in the 1940s, the sight of malfunctioning clocks and repeated alterations is disheartening. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The maintenance work led to the clocks stopping several weeks ago. Spot visits this week revealed inconsistent functioning—while five of the tower's six clocks showed the correct time on Thursday evening, one remained out of sync. "The state to which this iconic landmark has been reduced is disappointing and disheartening," said Vijay Singh, grandson of Lala Balbir Singh, in whose memory the structure was commissioned. Completed in 1953, the tower stands at one of Dehradun's busiest intersections. It was commissioned by Lala Sher Singh, a prominent landlord, in memory of his father, at a cost of nearly ₹1.5 lakh. Originally, six clocks were imported from Switzerland, contributing to its rare hexagonal design. The structure also bears the names of freedom fighters, adding to its historical significance. Over time, however, the original Swiss clocks were replaced—though authorities are unaware of when or how the change occurred. "Sometimes we regret handing the tower over to the city council. This was a historic landmark; it still is. It meant so much to our family and the whole city. Now it has become a prop that undergoes a facelift every few months, it seems. Authorities should be focused on maintaining the existing structure. Instead, they keep revamping the whole thing, adding new embellishments that don't last long," Singh told TOI. The family also said they only learn about changes through news reports. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We are never informed or involved in this process. Not even historians are. Authorities keep experimenting with this iconic landmark. At the time of its commission, it created history for its hexagonal structure. Now it is being lost," he added. In Sept last year, the tower fell silent for two days after unidentified individuals stole its wiring. In Dec, it suffered further damage when a truck rammed into its boundary wall. Over the years, TOI has reported multiple such incidents that have left the landmark defaced. Authorities have stated that the current restoration will offer long-term protection, with a double boundary to prevent vehicle collisions and a green belt around the main structure. While the Dehradun Municipal Corporation has jurisdiction over the tower, the ongoing beautification is being executed by Dehradun Smart City Limited.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Time of India
DMC begins yet another plastic-free drive as Doon mkts flood with single-use plastic
Dehradun: Dehradun Municipal Corporation (DMC) from Wednesday onwards began yet another plastic-free campaign in the capital, named Plastic Free Doon , aimed at eradicating single-use plastic and creating mass awareness about the use of prohibited despite several such campaigns, single-use plastic continues to be used rampantly across the city. India banned the manufacturing, import, distribution, sale, and usage of single-use plastic up to 100 microns from July 1, 2022. Despite these regulations, the use of prohibited products remains widespread in the city. Initially, strict enforcement by the DMC led to adherence to the regulations, but violations allegedly increased over often claim that the lack of action against violations bolsters them to continue using these bags. "In the past, when we refrained from using polythene bags, we lost customers. If all shopkeepers stop using it, then we have no issues, but if just a few of us stop, our regular customers go elsewhere," said a dairy owner, requesting anonymity, on Rajpur issue is well known to authorities who admitted that the products remain in circulation. "Through this campaign, we will not only start implementing the ban but also penalise the violators as we did in the past. We will do so even more regularly now. Another part of the campaign would be to create mass awareness amongst the public to prevent them from using these products," said DMC health officer, Dr Avinash is also working on a four-bin policy aimed at source segregation , which would greatly help with plastic waste management, claim a member of Dehradun Citizens' Forum, Radha, said that none of these campaigns will create a lasting effect unless the implementation is greatly strengthened. "We spoke to authorities earlier about preventing these polythene bags from entering Dehradun and the manufacture of plastic granules. All departments have to act collectively against this menace. Violators have to be penalised and made examples of, while public awareness also needs to be increased exponentially," she have been calling for source segregation for a while and also urging DMC to strengthen the door-to-door collection system that will help address the menace of public dumping of garbage and issues contributing to the use of single-use plastic.
