Urban News

The Hindu 27.07.2009

Upper castes pose problem for sanitation in BMC

Staff Reporter

BERHAMPUR: Upper castes do not feel shy to get appointed as sweepers but they usually shy away from doing the job.

In Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) the upper caste persons appointed as sweepers are a major hindrance in the maintenance of sanitation in the city, alleged the ‘Mahanagar Mehentar Karmachari Sangh (MMKS)’. It is the union of sanitary workers appointed by the BMC either on regular or temporary basis. On Sunday the members of the union held a rally and meeting to protest against proposed privatisation of sanitary work in 10 wards of the BMC.

The adviser of the Anil Nayak said at present there were over 700 sanitary workers with the BMC. They included the regular as well as the temporary ones. But out of them, over 150 temporary sanitary workers happened to be upper castes like Brahmin, Karan etc.

He alleged that these upper caste persons were not ready to wield brooms and clean roads and drains although they were appointed for it as they felt it was the work of lower castes. The union leaders alleged that these upper caste sweepers were getting paid without doing the work for which they were appointed.

The municipal officials said the appointment of upper castes for the post of sweepers did not violate any appointment norms as the no appointments are made on caste basis.

Meanwhile, the sanitary workers of the BMC on Sunday decided to oppose the privatisation of cleaning in the city.

TThey alleged that despite several requests the BMC chairperson and Commissioner were not calling them up for discussions. In their meeting they decided to hand over a 14 days notice to the BMC authorities on July 29, if the BMC authorities did not call them up for discussion over the privatisation issue till then. “We would start democratic agitation,” they said.

According to sources cleaning of 10 wards of the city is to be privatised from July 30. It is being opposed by the sanitary workers of the BMC.

The Hindu 27.07.2009

Rs. 1,411 crore set aside for urban development: Acharya

Staff Correspondent

Karkala (Udupi district): Home Minister V.S. Acharya said on Sunday that the State Government was giving priority to development of towns and cities.

He was speaking after inaugurating the 10-lakh-litre capacity overhead tank at the Ramasamudra Water Supply and Treatment Plant here.

Dr. Acharya said that the Government had set aside Rs. 1,411 crore for the development of towns and cities in the State.

It was providing Rs. 15 crore each to every city municipality and Rs. 5 crore each to every town municipality for development. These grants would be released in two years.

Each town panchayat had been provided with Rs. 2 crore, he said.

He lauded the Karkala Town Municipal Council for drawing up a plan for utilising the Rs. 5 crore allocated to it.

Rain damage

Udupi district topped the State in rain damage.

Relief

The Government had released Rs. 5 crore each to six districts which were severely affected by rains, and Rs. 2 crore each to five districts which were moderately affected by rains. It had provided Rs. 1 crore each to other 18 districts to meet any contingency arising out of monsoon, he said.

The city and town municipalities should give priority to drinking water supply.

They should make plans, taking into account the drinking water needs of the next 25 years.

The Karkala Town Municipal Council should take steps to remove silt from the Mundali Dam, from where water was being supplied to the people. This would increase the water storage capacity of the dam, he added.

Roads

Priority should also be given to widening of roads in towns and cities. Efforts should be made to widen roads in Karkala wherever possible, without disturbing the places of worship. The main bus-stand in Karkala should be shifted to a less congested area, Dr. Acharya said.

Funds

The Government had decided to construct an 80-feet-wide road from Udupi to Athrady. It had released Rs. 5 lakh for immediate filling of potholes on the main roads in Karkala, he said.

MLA Gopal Bhandary presided over the function.

Member of Legislative Council Kota Srinivas Poojary, president of Karkala Town Municipal Council Sitaram, vice-president Nalini Acharya, in-charge Deputy Commissioner Prasanna Kumar, executive officer of Karkala Town Municipal Council Madan, and municipal councillor Subadh Rao were among those present.