The Hindu 14.09.2009
Garbage woes pile up across the city
M. Srinivas
| Stink becomes unbearable especially when it rains |
Sanitation staff is lifting 4,000 tonnes of garbage everyday
Municipal Administration Minister to be petitioned soon
— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL 
civic mess: A common sight in many areas these days is overflowing dustbins.
HYDERABAD: It’s stinking literally. Heaps of garbage, unbearable stench and stray dogs have apparently become an inseparable part of the city. Despite having the requisite infrastructure and personnel, the civic body seems to be caught wanting in doing a thorough job.
Notwithstanding the 83 per cent door-to-door garbage collection, a common sight in many areas these days is overflowing dustbins. It is not only the smell that is causing hardships but also the spilled over garbage covering half the road, which is causing inconvenience to commuters.
Stench and squalor are ruling the roost in areas like Secunderabad, Kapra, Baghlingampally, Farooqnagar, Bilalnagar, Tarnaka, Misrigunj and Rikabgunj in old city. Residents complain that the sanitation staff is not doing a proper clean up job. “The stink becomes unbearable especially when it rains. We have to keep our windows and doors shut all the time,” says K. Krishnaveeni of Regimental Bazaar, Secunderabad.
Condition in markets is worse. While sweepers after collecting garbage make it a point to throw it at the nearest bin, shopkeepers and vendors dispose waste as they like with none to regulate them. Old city residents say overflowing garbage coupled with stagnant water is turning out to be a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. “Workers lift litter once in two or three days and this is causing the problem,” they say. Municipal officials, however, maintain garbage is lifted from 6 a.m. everyday. In fact, its sanitation staff was working two shifts these days to clear additional litter accumulated due to the festive season. “We usually lift over 3,800 tonnes of garbage from different areas and dump at Jawaharnagar in Shamirpet. It has now gone up to 4,000 tonnes due to Ganesh and Ramzan festivals,” explains GHMC Additional Commissioner (Health and Sanitation) Aleem Basha.
Federation of Association of Colonies and Apartments (FACA) general secretary V. Kamesh Babu says a memorandum would be submitted to Municipal Administration Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy within two days requesting him to look into the issue.
