The Times of India       12.09.2014 

PMC to launch ‘mission sanitation’ today

Patna: State Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD) has asked Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to get its tasks executed at the earliest. First in its list is 'mission sanitation', which the civic body will launch on Friday. The department will help in case of staff crunch.

At a meeting chaired by UDHD secretary Sandeep Poundrik a few days back, the department directed the PMC to take up 'mission sanitation' on urgent basis for the approaching festival season. Additional municipal commissioner (AMC) Shrisat Kapil Ashok told TOI a team of 60 to 70 sanitary workers in each circle would work under the supervision of their respective executive officers during the 'sanitation mission' from Friday.
Also, the PMC has ordered for over 360 handcarts to pick up garbage from streets. It has also sanctioned Rs3.55 lakh for the repair of old handcarts. A sum of Rs22 lakh has been sanctioned from the emergency fund for the purchase of brooms, limestone and bleaching powder. PMC commissioner Kuldip Narayan has also directed the chief sanitation officers to assure regular cleaning and sprinkling of limestone and bleaching powder.

The civic body will also ensure that all the puja committees during Durga Puja maintain cleanliness and keep dustbins in and around their respective pandals. It has also proposed to reward the cleanest pandal.
The AMC said additional 200 sanitation workers have been hired for Durga Puja and their number may be doubled for Diwali and Chhath. The mission will continue for two months from now, he said.

The UDHD has also directed the civic body to install 200 street lights in the NCC and 125 lights in Bankipore circle. At least 145 street lights have to be installed in the Kankarbagh circle and 150 in Patna City circle. The junior engineers under different power substations will help in installation work at the identified spots. This task has to be completed by September 24.

The PMC has also decided to repair the defunct high mast lights at the important spots of the city such as the area near Patna Junction, R-Block and Income Tax roundabout.