Garbage mountains across Haryana depict this govt's 'development': Kumari Selja

New Delhi: Kumari Selja, General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and MP from Sirsa, has criticized the Haryana government for its deteriorating performance in cleanliness standards. Selja’s statements highlight a growing frustration with the state’s sanitation management and the perceived misallocation of resources.

From second to fourteenth: Haryana's fall in cleanliness rankings

Selja's critique centers around Haryana's significant drop in the Swachh Survekshan 2023 rankings. The state, which was ranked 2nd in 2021, has plummeted to 14th place this year. Notably, no city from Haryana made it into the top 100 of the survey. Rohtak, once the highest-ranked city in the state, now stands at 109th position, while Karnal, the Chief Minister’s city, is ranked 115th.

Selja remarked, "The Haryana government boasts about unprecedented development, yet the heaps of garbage in every city tell a different story. The state’s failure to manage cleanliness and the misappropriation of funds meant for sanitation are glaring issues."

Allegations of mismanagement and corruption

Selja accused the state government of negligence and corruption in managing sanitation services. She alleged that billions allocated for cleanliness have been misused, with municipal positions remaining unfilled. This mismanagement, she argues, is evident from the poor scores in Swachh Survekshan, where Haryana’s score has only marginally increased from 1745 in 2021 to 1958 in 2023.

She further highlighted discrepancies in waste management, stating, “The separation of dry and wet waste has not been effectively implemented, and the overall waste management system is weak. The number of sanitation workers is insufficient compared to the state’s needs. Many municipalities have been involved in scandals related to the distribution of dustbins.”

Selja calls for accountability in sanitation sector

Selja has called for a thorough vigilance investigation into the mismanagement of sanitation funds. She criticized the government for its lack of action and for ignoring complaints about corruption. According to Selja, the neglect of proper waste management and the insufficient number of sanitation staff indicate a broader issue of governance and accountability.

Kumari Selja responds to Kangana Ranaut’s comments

In response to statements made by Kangana Ranaut, Kumari Selja criticized the BJP's claims of supporting farmers. Selja, a senior Congress leader, accused the BJP of having a deep-seated hostility toward farmers despite their public statements of support. “Under BJP rule, farmers were shot at and labeled as terrorists,” Selja said. She added that the BJP is now trying to distance itself from controversial remarks made by its MPs in the face of widespread opposition.

Selja emphasized that farmers have not forgotten the BJP's actions and will not forgive them. She suggested that the farmers showed only a glimpse of their discontent in the recent Lok Sabha elections, and they plan to deliver a decisive blow to the BJP in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. According to Selja, the farmers' full response will be evident in these elections, sending a clear message to the BJP.