It has gone just beyond the garbage and media brouhaha about the filth around the city. Now the apathy of the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) and A2Z and resulting filth in streets, homes and everywhere has put the public health at stake.
There are many localities in the city that have not been visited by A2Z people for more than a week. Garbage has piled up in streets and the exit gates of homes. Monsoon water is mixing with the garbage making it decompose with foul stench putting public health at stake.
“It has been a week since A2Z persons visited this locality. Garbage heap has piled up at my home. It is difficult now to stay here. I called the phone number of supervisor, it was found switched off. I am afraid, diseases might break out,” complained AN Jha, a Morhabadi locality resident.
It was not that the cleanliness situation was very much better earlier. But the situation has worsened in last one week. But why has this situation occurredIJ While there is much explanation from the senior officials of A2Z and RMC, a mid-level employee of A2Z Ranchi office has spilled the bins.
According to him the company has cunningly taken several steps aimed at cutting expenditures. Not only has the company expelled more than 200 of its employees it has cut the salaries of its staffs – which has injected disenchantment in them. He also highlighted on other “money saving techniques”.
“There are 15 compactors out of which not more than eight are functional. As per the agreement 25-26 tractors are to run but today you will not see more than 18 tractors. Similarly there has to be 55 Tata vehicles - one for each ward - but not more than 47-48 vehicles run. Rest vehicles are broken and biting dust at Nagababa Khatal. The dysfunctional and broken vehicles are not repaired to save money,” he said.
The story does not end there. “The company got RMC to release funds for 1000 dustbins. As many bins were bought also. But with time more than 50 per cent have been reduced to broken iron sheets lying in streets. Smaller rickshaws are required 450 in number but they you will find no more than 300 of them,” he adds.
His words were translated into scenery at the Khatal where bins, tractors, small Tata vehicles are lying defunct – broken and bruised. A heap of stench full garbage has build up around these vehicles. A2Z have ignored it, RMC simply doesn’t care. Only some people use the space occupied by these vehicles and bins – just for urinating and dumping wastes. Mind you, the Khatal is just in front of Raj Bhawan’s one of entry gates.
Amidst this negligence and indifference attitude of both the agencies - A2Z and RMC – common people are suffering. Deputy Mayor S Vijayvargiya said that the municipality would meet any day after July 16. It would be decided how to deal withA2Z – whether to warn or terminate the company.
“The games they (RMC – A2Z) play are of no concern to us. Suppose if they move to court and the matter takes two years or so to come to come to conclusion will we have to live amidst the garbageIJ” a Ratu Raod resident quipped.