Ludhiana: New solid waste management mandates requiring large-scale residential and commercial hubs to process their own organic refuse have sparked scepticism in this industrial centre, where past sustainability initiatives have collapsed repeatedly.The regulations require gated communities, market associations, and institutions exceeding 5,000 sqm to segregate waste at the source. Under the rules, biodegradable material must be treated on-site through composting or bio-methanation whenever possible.However, Ludhiana’s municipal corporation (MC) faces an uphill battle in enforcement. Previous attempts to establish “model colonies” in Silver Kunj and Bank Colony — aimed at achieving 100% source segregation and plastic-free status — faded within six months despite the distribution of colour-coded bins and cloth bags.Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) cite a lack of space and administrative willpower as primary hurdles. “We attempted to convert horticulture waste into manure in our local park,” said Narinder Singh Masson of the Karnail Singh Nagar RWA. “Within days, the foul smell led to an outcry from residents. Without authority support and proper space, complete implementation is impossible.”Logistical challenges also plague the civic body itself. The MC has struggled to find adequate space for compost pits to manage horticulture waste in its own public parks, raising questions about how private colonies will manage wet waste in dense urban pockets.Some community leaders remain hopeful but emphasise the need for better education. Colonel J S Gill (retd), an activist from BRS Nagar, has said his colony is willing to comply but noted that “convincing all residents is difficult”. His neighborhood already manages green waste independently, but he argues the MC must streamline the broader system.Municipal commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta maintained that public cooperation is the only path forward. “The department cannot transform the city alone,” she said. “This will only happen with public support and increased awareness.” As residents point to a stinking track record of failed green initiatives while officials demand self-sufficiency, local leaders argue that without more space and better support, the new environmental mandates are destined for the scrap heap.
