`MCD fails to keep city clean’

However, Municipal Commissioner V.K. Duggal was quick to deny it. He said that every year a drive was conducted before the onset of monsoons to prevent the outbreak of diseases. He also pointed out that the money was spent on the desilting, which was an essential task. Giving credit where it was due, Desai said that the drive had been successful and the city had benefitted from it. He said that municipal workers faced a lot of problems in cleaning the roads as the roads under the Public works Department (PWD) and railways employees denied them access. He said that maintenance and sanitation of all roads should be handed over to the civic bodies.

Desai also said that an additional 900 safai karamcharis would be sanctioned for cleaning the JJ clusters. Apart from lifting tons of garbage and malba, septic tanks and nullahs were desilted during the drive which began on June 2.

He also said that the health department had also made elaborate arrangements to prevent the outbreak of dangerous diseases. To prevent mosquito breeding, 17,322 houses were sprayed and 2,17,430 houses were checked for mosquitoes.

Food hygeine raids were also being conducted regularly. So far, 44,000 kgs of unwholesome food and 56,500 kgs of sub-standard ice had been destroyed. Besides, 164 sugarcane crushers, 748 rehris and 543 water trolleys were seized.

He added that chlorine tablets were being distributed in unauthorised colonies where there is no municipal water supply. Health education is also being imparted for taking measures for prevention of these diseases.