RANCHI: Deputy CEO of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Gopalji Tiwari directed the officers of A2Z waste management company to organize a nukkad natak on cleanliness in every ward of the city before Durga Puja.

In a meeting convened by RMC to discuss the preparations for Durga Puja, Tiwari said, "Street plays must be organized in every ward at least once before the Durga Puja as part of a cleanliness programme. Awareness will make people support our drive to clean the city."

RMC's dissatisfaction with A2Z's work was clear at the meeting. "A2Z has a machine which sweeps the road but they never use it. We have instructed them to do so," Tiwari said, adding, "I have asked them to either replace or paint old dustbins and mark them dry waste or wet waste so that disposal is easier."

While the arrival of Durga Puja has prompted RMC to introduce these measures in a month's time, the city is still stinking from overflowing drains and garbage strewn all around which makes the task all the more difficult. "We will again meet in the next 15 days to check the progress so that by the time pandals are constructed the city will be cleaner," said Tiwari.