Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra on Friday said that inspite of limited resources Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is playing a vital role in fighting against the pandemic Coronavirus.
While addressing a press conference on April 17, Lakra spoke about the civic body’s requirements in fighting the virus and also the coming summer months. A letter regarding the same has been addressed to the Chief Minister, Urban Development Minister and Secretary Urban Development Department on April 15.
The Mayor said that to prevent the spread of the virus in the State capital, RMC requires a sum of Rs 10 crore. A letter regarding the same had been addressed to the Chief Minister on April 8 but sadly no decision on this matter was taken in the cabinet meeting on April 13.
In view of the increasing number of positive cases, special emphasis on sanitization and cleanliness is being given to three wards- ward numbers 21, 22 and 23 in the Hindpiri locality. If in the coming days, the infection spreads to other wards, the situation will become very scary. Therefore, to prevent its spread adequate resources are required.
Lakra further stated that presently there are 2400 cleaners under RMC who are working without a PPE kit and other safety equipment. In order to sanitize all houses, apartments and slum areas, RMC requires handgun spray, sanitizer machine, sodium hypochlorite chemical, bleaching powder, hand sanitizer and other equipments.
The civic body has also made a provision of giving Rs 2000 as an additional incentive to the sanitary workers for the months of March, April and May on the basis of minimum 20 days attendance. In case of contracting the disease, all medical expenses will be borne by RMC and in case of death Rs 10 lakh will be given to the dependents.
The monthly expenses of RMC have gone up to Rs 7 crore from Rs 5 crore and the present Congress- JMM government is not bothered about the safety of the workers. The central government has allotted a fund of Rs 284 crore and if RMC is not given even Re 1 from it, what will it be used for.
The Mayor also stated that the government is not serious about the upcoming summer months. A total amount of Rs 19,77,81,321.00 is required for the current financial year 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Two letters regarding the same have been addressed to the Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department but the issue has not been sorted yet.
Water user charges being collected by RMC is being transferred to Drinking Water and Sanitization Department. In such a situation, to provide water to the common people new schemes (boring, tanker) can be used.
A proposal to allocate funds from the department for the repair and maintenance of old hand pumps, mini HYDTW and HYDTW has also been made. In various localities, RMC supplies water through boring and tankers to the people.