In an effort to increase cleanliness here, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has started evening sanitation drive in the summer capital Srinagar.
As part of a strategy, the civic body has formed special teams for collection of garbage from designated waste collection points in the evening. An official said these teams also visit bulk waste generators for garbage collection.
“We have asked private organizations including hotels, restaurants and others to deposit additional fee for collection of garbage by the SMC during evening hours. They have happily agreed to the proposal,” said SMC Commissioner, Gazanfar Ali.
The Commissioner said several complaints were received from different quarters that dogs assemble at the garbage points during evening hours and chase commuters. The Commissioner said he has himself observed as how dogs pose a threat during evening hours, particularly at garbage dumping sites.
“Therefore, we decided to clear the garbage during the evenings as well. It is going to help us to improve the level of sanitation and at the same time minimize presence of stray dogs on the roads,” he said.
The SMC used to carry routine sanitation and collection of garbage every morning. The garbage generated throughout the day is collected and transported the next morning. The Commissioner said evening garbage lifting was also being carried out at “vulnerable temporary garbage collection points” at Bagh-e-Mehtaab, Rawalpora, Khanyar, Eidgah and other areas.
Elaborating, he said several garbage points were risky. “We have AN open space at Hawal designated as garbage collection point. An installation dumper there can cause road accidents. All such vulnerable garbage collections points have been put on top priority for clearance of waste during the evening shift,” he said.
The directions from Commissioner’s office have gone to all ward officers to personally monitor progress and impact of the evening shifts and report to the SMC headquarter on weekly basis.
An SMC official said recently announced report by government of India in which Srinagar figured at 36th rank of the total 4242 cities on cleanliness index has encouraged the SMC to improve its performance further.