The Times of India            30.10.2013

Ahmedabad pols take position for Mayor’s Cup

AHMEDABAD: The Walled City's recognition of Mahatma Gandhi's emphasis on cleanliness was put to the test on Monday, when a panel of judges walked down the serpentine alleys of the Walled City to scan the pols vying for the Mayor's Cup.

More than 200 pols have registered to fight for the Rs 1 lakh cash prize awarded to the cleanest pol. The competition has been revived by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on the basis of the representations made by the five Youth Brigade members who lead the TOI's I Lead India initiative.

The Mayor's Cup judges include officials from the AMC.

It took the panel three hours to cover more than 100 pols in Kalupur, Dariapur, Navovas, Shahpur and Relief Road. The judges split in groups and went pol-to-pol scanning societies on various parameters, including the level of cleanliness, greenery, the existence of efficient waste management systems, long-term plans to keep the pols clean and local participation in keeping the areas tidy.

In every pol, the judges met Pol Mitras or the 'Friends of the Pols' and secured their feedback. At a few pols, the judges also educated residents on what they should do if sweepers don't turn up, or if a dead animal is raising a stink. The AMC officials also promised to bring the grievances of the locals to the notice of their seniors.

Excitement soared high in Totdaji ni Pol and Matawali ni Pol where a large number of residents waited for the judges from early morning. The contest provides for Rs 25,000 prize for each of the three runners-up as well.

After being guided by the panel, members of Bukhari ni Pol in Dariapur agreed to segregate waste and use dustbins. "We pledged to change after meeting the judges and TOI's trailblazers who have given a new definition to cleanliness in our lives," said Khurshida Bano of Bukhari ni Pol.

Devendra Parekh, the training coordinator at the Environmental Sanitation Institute — one of the NGOs associated with the campaign — said: "A citizen-led initiative is the best way to clean up the city. Waste management cannot be left to the corporation employees alone."

The contest will make the residents feel proud about living in a city that is vying to become India's first Unesco-recognized World Heritage City, said Vinita Udhani from Paryavaran Mitra of CEE, another NGO allied with the mission. "As good citizens, they should stop cribbing and cultivate respect for their neighbourhood," Udhani said.

Some of the pols covered on Monday included Nagina Pol, Haaji Mohalla, Chaudhri ni Khadki, Derasar ni Khadki, Dhupel wali Pol, Chhowara ni Pol, Bakar Ali ni Pol, Kalu Shah ni Pol, Laxmi Narayan ni Pol and Mamu Nayak ni Pol. The judges will cover another set of pols on Tuesday.