Considering the orders of Jharkhand State Pollution Control Board (JSPCB) on idol immersion inside water reservoirs that suggests cleaning up of water bodies soon after completing the immersion takes place, the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) pulling its socks up has started clearing the strew accumulated at the demarcated ponds where immersion ritual was carried out on October 19 and 20.
As per the guidelines of the State Pollution Control Board, materials like flowers, clothes and other items used during the puja rituals must be removed within 48 hours of immersion from the sites like ponds and other water bodies for conserving the water from getting contaminated.
Amid the strike of sanitation workers of MSW Essel Infra – the firm managing the work of door to door garbage collection here, the Municipal Corporation has come up with alternative arrangements to clean up the mess considering the auspicious ‘Chhath Puja’ lined up in November second week.
“Demarcation of ponds for carrying out idol immersion rituals provided much respite to the civic body personnel in clearing the dirt collected at water reservoirs after Durga puja. Also, two-day time for puja samitis to complete the immersion rituals by the district administration helped the RMC workers to complete the cleaning up of water bodies here on time. Around 80 per cent ponds listed with RMC for idol immersion has been cleaned,” said Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Vijayawargia.
The immersion ritual is carried out at Ranchi Lake, Banas Talab, Kanke Dam, Dhurwa Dam, Line Tank, Jail Talab, Batan Talab, Tetar Toli Talab, Argora Talab and PHED Talab annually. “The concerned team of each ward under whose jurisdiction the enlisted water bodies come have assured RMC that by October 22 evening, all water reservoirs will be cleaned, in case, the cleaning activities are yet to carried out,” said City Manager and RMC SBM Cell In-charge, Sandeep Kumar.
Meanwhile, following the increasing complaint cases from different wards on irregular solid waste collection from the households, the civic body has planned to streamline the service by taking the charge in its own hand. Notably, 500 sanitation workers called the strike over delay of payment. Since October15, RMC is managing the service of garbage collection, segregation and disposal. However, the Deputy Mayor said that after a dialogue and assurance, the sanitation workers have given their consent to resume the work at each ward from October 22.
“The delay in payment issue has been resolved on October 20. Due to the banks holiday, the problem aroused. Also, after the written assurance of company’s senior officials over streamlining the service, the Municipal Corporation is keeping a close watch on company’s daily activities like garbage collection, segregation of garbage from Mini-Transfer Stations (MTSs) and the total waste disposed at the dump yard,” added Vijayawargia.
