The Hindu 01.04.2010
GHMC mops up old city, finally
Special Correspondent
| Religious flags, buntings that caused all the trouble in the last three days removed |
Garbage had piled up in dumper bins for the last three days
64 open tippers operated to remove the municipal waste
– Photo: AFP 
At work: Enforcement cell workers remove religious flags in the old city on Wednesday
HYDERABAD: The GHMC got its act right on Wednesday. It not only began to lift garbage in the old city taking curfew passes for transport vehicles but also began to remove religious flags and buntings that caused all the trouble in the last three days from several places.
Two enforcement vehicles in each of the 18 municipal circles have been positioned at the disposal of the Deputy Commissioners concerned to pick up flags and buntings.
In the trouble-torn old city alone as many as 12 vehicles were pressed into service from among the 22 being used exclusively for the purpose.
Incidentally, the action follows criticism from various sections about the alleged inaction by the municipal corporation in promptly removing the flags and buntings, religious or political in recent times.
Today was also the day when lifting of garbage was taken up in the old city.
Curfew passes
Curfew passes were taken for vehicles and 150 drivers, most of whom reside in the trouble torn areas, to lift garbage from different points. About 64 of total 85 open tippers were operated today to remove the municipal waste, said Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation) S.K. Aleem Basha.
The garbage was piled up in dumper bins for the last three days as the transport vehicles were unable to move because of the violent incidents since Sunday.
About 558 dumper bin points were touched by the trucks including those in the old city and in Secunderabad.
Of the 3,800 metric tonnes of garbage generated daily in the capital city about 1,200 metric tonnes of it is generated from the old city.
Meanwhile, solid waste management and transport wing's superintendent engineer has invited fresh tenders from experienced transport contractors for loading, transporting and unloading garbage from localities of Uppal, Malkajgiri, L.B.Nagar, Kukatpally and Ramachandrapuram circles to the Jawaharnagar dumping yard for a period of one year. Twenty five vehicles including tippers and excavators-cum-loads are being requisitioned on the hire basis and with contracts to be finalised by next week.
