The Pioneer 12.08.2010
Shortage of staff hits MCD’s special cleaning drive
Paritosh Kimothi | Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun has started a special cleaning drive, especially in areas hit by waterlogging. But its efforts are being hampered by shortage of staff and vehicles to transport garbage collected in municipal waste containers. On the instructions of Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harbans Kapur, the MCD and Irrigation Department have also started a special cleaning campaign to clear the riverbed of Bindaal River.
However, it remains to be seen whether the MCD will be able to provide a clean town by the time of the Independence Day function on Parade Ground which is surrounded by open sewers choked with garbage.
According to chief city health officer Gurpal Singh, sanitation supervisors have been directed to make a list of spots where garbage is lying in the open.
A special sanitation campaign is being undertaken by the MCD till August 21, especially in areas prone to waterlogging. However, MCD officials also acknowledge that shortage of staff, resources and heavy rains being experienced in the city are negatively affecting the special cleaning drive. Presently the MCD has six trucks for transporting municipal waste containers but mechanical factors prevent the entire fleet of vehicles from operating effectively at the same time.
In a related development, eight companies have submitted their tenders to the MCD for the task of door to door collection of garbage, which will be facilitated with the completion of the construction of the Solid Waste Management facility Rs 24.6 crore provided under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
However, the SWM facility is not expected to be ready and operational in the present year. This is expected to increase the pressure on the numerically and efficiency-wise limited resources of the MCD for maintenance of civic sanitation in the town.
The Meteorological Department predicts a strong possibility of spells of heavy rains in the coming week. Considering this, if the MCD sanitation campaign is not efficient, the Independence Day function to be held at Parade Ground could be marred by waterlogging.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Parade Ground is surrounded by open sewers which are choked by garbage. As a result, a few hours of heavy rain can cause major waterlogging at the intersections surrounding the ground.
