Despite 250 Employees, Municipal Sanitation System Completely Collapses; Councillors Express Anger.
Angry over the poor sanitation system, councillors had several trolley-loads of garbage from different wards dumped inside the municipal premises, resulting in foul smell for hours.
Tilhar/Shahjahanpur: Once again, questions have been raised over the functioning of the municipal administration regarding the sanitation system in the town. Despite around 250 sanitation workers being deployed, sanitation arrangements in several wards remain in poor condition. Angered by the situation, municipal councillors adopted an unusual form of protest and had several trolley-loads of garbage collected from different wards dumped inside the municipal premises. Soon, heaps of garbage accumulated on the premises, while a foul smell lingered in the surrounding area for hours.
The councillors alleged that despite having a sufficient number of sanitation workers in the town, the sanitation system is not being operated effectively. They claimed that the municipal officials and clerical staff no longer have effective control over more than a dozen sanitation supervisors and workers. It was alleged that some sanitation supervisors are working arbitrarily and are not performing their duties according to the prescribed system, resulting in disruption of regular sanitation work in several wards.
The councillors also alleged that more than a dozen sanitation workers are assigned personal work by the Chairperson and that these employees spend most of their time at the Chairperson’s residence. These allegations have raised serious questions regarding the sanitation system of the town. However, these allegations could not be independently verified.
After information was received that garbage from various wards had been dumped inside the municipal premises, the situation continued for quite some time. It was reported that some municipal employees present at the spot left the premises. After about two hours, the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council arrived. He reprimanded the sanitation supervisors and workers over the sanitation situation and directed them to immediately restore cleanliness in the affected wards.
The Executive Officer directed Sanitation Inspector Rajeev Kumar to ensure immediate cleaning in the wards where sanitation services had been affected and to restore the situation to normal. He made it clear that there should be no negligence whatsoever regarding sanitation arrangements in the town.
The Executive Officer also held a meeting with the sanitation supervisors and councillors and invited suggestions for improving and maintaining the town’s sanitation system. Problems affecting sanitation services and possible solutions were discussed during the meeting.
The garbage brought from various wards and dumped inside the municipal premises, along with the foul smell emanating from it, highlighted the seriousness of the situation. It remains to be seen how much improvement will be made in the town’s sanitation system following the directions issued by the municipal administration and how the system will be brought back on track by fixing responsibilities.
Executive Officer Sunil Kumar said that the road leading to the MRF Centre had been submerged due to rain, but it has now been completely repaired. He said that sanitation work was still continuing despite the difficulties. Regarding the incident that occurred today, he said, “Whatever happened today was not right, but the Municipal Council is ready to take every possible step to ensure that the town’s sanitation system remains completely streamlined. There is no shortage of employees. Wherever problems are arising, instructions have been issued for their immediate resolution. We are also taking all possible steps within our authority.”
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