Dengue cases spiral north, cleanliness in Mohali still a distant dream

With garbage heaps piling up by the day and stagnant water harbouring an increasing population of mosquitoes and flies, the woes of the Mohali residents knows no end.

With garbage heaps piling up by the day and stagnant water harbouring an increasing population of mosquitoes and flies, the woes of the Mohali residents knows no end.

Even after the recent spurt in dengue cases, the level of cleanliness at the district headquarters leaves a lot to be desired. The civic body has come under sharp criticism from its own councillors for this neglect. While the MC officials prefer to be tight-lipped on the issue, most of the permanent safai karamcharis are reportedly catering to the bureaucrats.

Of the total budgetary provisions of Rs 32.75 crore for 2008-09, the MC had earmarked Rs 23.65 crore for development projects. While Rs 1.5 crore was earmarked for the collection and removal of solid waste, the sanitation expenditure was covered under the development fund.

Despite the huge allocation, the sanitary conditions remain deplorable. Most of the areas have become virtual dumping grounds owing to the absence of proper garbage disposal dumps. This has led to the breeding of mosquitoes and flies.

For a population of nearly 1.22 lakh people spread over an area of almost 23.86 square km, two private contractors have been given the charge to maintain sanitation in the residential areas, which were divided into four zones. These MC safai karamcharis, however, also look after sanitation work in the Industrial Area.

The present system appears grossly inadequate to provide satisfactory sanitation to the entire township and MC officials prescribe an addition of at least 500 more safai karamcharis. Interestingly, there is a ban on new recruitments.

Despite having 100 safai karamcharis, the sanitation work in the residential areas has been outsourced on an annual contract of Rs 1.4 crore, said Executive Officer, Mohali Municipal Council, Amena Kumar Goel.

Story continues below this ad

Claiming that all was well on the sanitation front, the EO said, 8220;We are paying special attention to keeping the city clean and green.8221;

While admitting that Mataur village was the dirtiest place within the MC limits, Goel asserted that no case of dengue has been reported from that area.

8220;Phase 3-B 1, from where maximum dengue cases were reported, is among the cleanest places and it is the breeding of dengue mosquito in stagnant water within houses, had led to the outbreak,8221; claimed the EO.

Responding to the allegations of municipal councillors regarding unsatisfactory cleanliness arrangements, Goel said the municipal councillors have been empowered to check the contractors8217; work in their respective areas and report any lapse. Former MC vice-president Harman Preet Singh Prince, accused MC president Rajinder Singh Rana of 8220;failing miserably8221; in keeping the city clean even after over two years of rule.

Story continues below this ad

In the last MC meeting, municipal councillor Mohanbeer Singh Shergill had also raised a strong voice against the poor cleanliness arrangements. Municipal Councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi, who represents the dengue-affected Phase 3-B 1, warned that if special steps were not taken forthwith, the present unsanitary conditions could lead to an epidemic in the coming days.