The Times of India              01.11.2013

Mayor seeks details of money spent on cleanliness of ghats

VARANASI: The political leadership seems to take note of poor state of affairs regarding cleaning and sanitation in the city. Mayor Ramgopal Mohale asked for details of spending of Rs 1 crores in the name of cleaning of the ghats this year and last year.

The issue was raised during a meeting held by the mayor with the officials of the Varanasi Municipal Corporation (VMC) to take stock of preparations for Diwali on Thursday. "I was told that Rs 40 lakh had already been spent on the cleaning of ghats and last year it was done for Rs 60 lakh. Yet the condition of ghats remain the same. So, I have asked for details as to how and where the money has been spent," Mohale said.

All the zonal health officers and sanitary inspectors have been asked to visit their areas and report to the municipal commissioner about the progress of the work, failing which stern action would be taken against them.

Officials of the engineering and health departments of the local body, have failed to discharge their duties on many accounts. "I have asked the health officials to dispose of the waste material on a speedy and regular basis. The engineering department needs to repair the major roads that belong to VMC and lanes leading to the ghats and major temples," he said.

The Jal-Kal officials were instructed to take care of the persistent sewage problem in localities like Rathyatra, Lahartara, Jalalipura and Birdopur. On the issue of laying of small sewage lines in areas that witness continuous sewage overflow, the Jal-Kal officials said that the work has to be done by the Jal Nigam at the cost of Rs 10 crores, of which the Jal-Kal had been able to pay Rs 2 crores.

To keep watch over the progress of works under infrastructure fund, VMC fund and 13th finance commission, the mayor has asked the official concerned to present a list of all such works.

Residents launch cleanliness drive at Assi Ghat: A cleaning drive was launched by the residents of Assi and Bhadaini.

More than 60 people gathered at Assi Ghat to clean it.

"Despite several oral and written complaints to the VMC officials for cleaning the ghat and removing debris lying at Dumraaonbagh for past three years, no action was taken. We decided to clean the ghat as Diwali, Chhath and Dev Deepawali are round the corner. Within three hours, we managed to clean remove more than two trucks of garbage," said the corporator.

Recently, city health officer had admitted while speaking to TOI that about 50% of the vehicles and machines of the local body meant for garbage disposal are lying defunct. Recently, the mayor had approved funds for repairing these machines.

The corporator said that he had urged the people keep the area clean.