Civic body to outsource cleaning staff to fulfil corporators’ needs

“The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has 2,800 posts for the job. The strength has not increased despite the increase in the civic jurisdiction in the recent past,but the demand for them is on the rise,” said Suresh Jagtap,deputy municipal commissioner.

He said the sitting corporators,especially those representing fringe areas,have been demanding civic staff for sweeping the roads in their wards. Going by the existing demand,Jagtap said there is a need of 6,000 personnel to clean up the streets across the city,but they cannot be appointed as there is no approval from the state government. “The only solution is to outsource the job. The civic body has approved Rs 12 crore for the purpose,” he added.

According to corporator Vikas Dangat from Vadgaon Budhruk,citizens are alert and will not re-elect those who failed to meet their demands. “They have been demanding civic staff for cleaning up the streets and open spaces near their buildings,” he added.

Vivek Dixit,a resident,said his housing society has been demanding civic services,including cleaning up of the public place adjoining their building,from the sitting corporator. “We have been asking the corporator to ensure necessary civic services are provided to us. Now,he will approach us seeking our votes. We will then question him on his failure to fulfil our demands,” he said.

There is a real estate boom in the peripheral areas of the city,where new roads are being paved,Dangat said. “These need to be cleaned every day,but given the current staff strength,it is a difficult task. We have to fulfil citizens’ genuine demands; we cannot give excuses while seeking votes,” he added.

Activist Vihar Durve said the elected representatives have been making the demand to meet the need of citizens. “Citizens will obviously ask for basic services when sitting corporators are back at their doors,seeking votes. It is the primary responsibility of the PMC to provide such services,” he said.

However,the PMC’s decision to outsource the work is wrong,Durve said. Only civic staff should be given the responsibility of cleaning up the streets,and if there is a shortfall,the administration should take up the matter with the state government.