Indian Express 28.05.2010
Door-to-door waste collection: Civic body move sparks protest
Ajay Khape Tags : civic, waste collection Posted: Fri May 28 2010, 00:33 hrs
Pune: A cooperative for door-to-door collection of garbage has launched a signature campaign opposing the Pune Municipal Corporation’s move to bring in more agencies for the purpose. The members of Swach have managed to secure the support of a number of residents who believe that the cooperative was doing a commendable job.“We have got signatures of 30,000 citizens opposing the move of roping in a new organisation for door-to-door collection when Swach was doing a good job,” said Shabana Diler of Swach. She said they have registered their protest with the civic body and submitted a memorandum signed by citizens.”
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Suresh Jagtap admitted that Swach is doing a good job.”We don’t intend to affect the operation of Swach. However, a large number of households are yet to be covered and the option of more organisations is being explored,” he said. The PMC through Swach covers 2.5 lakh houses of 7.5 lakh in its jurisdiction, charging Rs 10 per month.
Meanwhile, a few elected representatives have also expressed their displeasure over the functioning of Swach and have proposed the introduction of independent groups in their respective wards. Sena corporator Sachin Bhagat is providing the service free of cost in his ward. “I have roped in unemployed poor youths who make money from the scrap collected,” he said. Former mayor and NCP corporator Rajlaxmi Bhosale too has decided to rope in her own agency in her ward.
