Panchkula, April 3 -- Although the material recovery facility (MRF) at Alipur village has become fully functional and the earlier Jhuriwala transfer station has been permanently closed, the condition of the Jhuriwala site, located adjacent to the national highway, remains an eyesore. During a visit to the site on Thursday, garbage was found scattered outside the enclosure. Stinking waste was also seen flowing into a stream near the Khol-Hai-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary. The situation appeared worse as a dead cow was lying just a few metres from thehighway. A Panchkula municipal corporation (MC) worker present at the site said the animal had likely died four days ago due to a snake bite. "However, the presence of garbage continues to attract stray cattle, increasing the risk of road accidents on the busy highway," he said. The worker added that he remains on duty till 5 pm, but small quantities of garbage are often dumped at the site during late hours. Chief sanitary inspector (CSI) Anil Nain said challans would be issued against such violators. The drainage channel near the site is also in poor condition, clogged with garbage, while its cemented covers have been badly damaged due to the continuous movement of municipal vehicles earlier used for dumping. Municipal commissioner Vinay Kumar said the enclosure at the Jhuriwala site will be removed within 10 days, after which good soil will be laid for plantation. Residents of Alipur village have demanded the relocation of the transfer station, citing foul smell, its close proximity to the village, and improper waste clearance. They also alleged they were misled about plans to develop a nursery at the site. However, commissioner Vinay Kumar maintained that all necessary safeguardswere taken into account during its construction. The MC commissioner said the Alipur MRF site will be further developed with a focus on modernisation. Permissions have been sought from the concerned authorities, and there are plans to install a hopper machine to improve waste segregation. Currently, around 20% segregation is being carried out manually. "We aim to develop the facility on the lines of the Chandigarh plant and have also sought funds under the Swachh Bharat Mission," he said, adding that a proposal has been sent for approval. A contractor at the Alipur site said around 10 truckloads of waste arrive daily from the city, which is then transported to Patvi in Ambala on a regular basis. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed Panchkula MC to ensure timely waste clearance at the Jhuriwala site while disposing of a three-year-old petition last year. Earlier, in November 2022, it imposed a Rs.10 crore fine on Panchkula and Kalka MCs for violations and ordered remediation and relocation of waste management. The petitioner had alleged that dumping was harming forests, wildlife, and nearby areas, blocking a natural water channel and causing hazardous leachate mixing, besides leading to traffic congestion and road damage due to heavy vehicles....