It’s strange but true! At one side Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials make tall claims of their resolve to keep the city clean and on the other side they ignore the littering activities alongside of the roads creating an unhygienic environment across the city.
People are found freely littering in open as there is no provision of dustbins at public places. To solve one of the biggest civic problems that haunt Chief Secretary Sajal Chakraverty had ordered RMC officials to purchase 1,000 drums and 215 dustbins for the city but irony is that civic body has not moved an inch towards this direction.
When RMC Mayor Asha lakra was enquired over the reason behind the delay she said, “Order for drums and dustbins has already been placed. We are expecting to receive the consignment within a week. As soon as we get the bins will send it for colouring (orange colour) and after that its placement will be done immediately.”
Besides, for collecting dry wastes from the roads a team of five members each in every ward was also to be formed but RMC has proved futile in this direction too. When questioned RMC PRO Naresh Singh replied, “We do not have any magic wand with us. It takes time to put things on place. Due to acute shortage of staffs the team could not be formed. Discussion over the issue is going on between the officials of top hierarchy.”
Notably, the street vendors (Protection of livelihood and Regulation of street vending) Bill 2014, states to create conducive atmosphere for street vendors to carry out their business. However, in the absence of proper disposal facility large number of street food vendors here has to carry out their business under unfavourable surrounding.
“Selling items besides garbage heap has become a common phenomenon for us and now it is unbearable. Dustbins for street vendors are the direst need of the hour so that all the garbage and leftovers can be accumulated at one place,” said Raju Kumar who has his fast food stall at Kutchery chowk.
Nevertheless, the presence of garbage and trash are found attracting a lot of stray dogs during the night and cattle during day. “The animals which eat the trash are in danger of coming in contact with various communicable diseases. Moreover, the chance of incidents such as animal bite has also increased in this area,” said another vendor.