Oppn leader says Swachh Bharat a ’clean failure’

Oppn leader says Swachh Bharat a ’clean failure’

Mangalore Today News Network

Sep 19, 2016: Addressing media, opposition leader in MCC, Mangaluru City Corporation council Roopa D Bangera has predicted that the Corporation may repeat the failure of making it to ‘Smart City’ list.’ Roopa Bangera said that there are only four months left for ‘Swachh Bharat Sarvekshan’, due to be held between January and February 2017. “The plans announced ahead of the Swachh Bharat survey to take up massive drives remain on papers, with no seriousness on the part of the local body. Even if one feels that the administration is in a deep slumber, they will be wrong again, as the administration is practically dead,” she said.

Bangera cited the example of projects that are yet to take off - including the constitution of a task force to monitor ‘Swachh Bharat’ works, building additional 37 toilets, three environment-friendly toilets (e-toilets), effecting total plastic ban and check on open defecation.

Evidence :  Releasing a set of photographs to expose the failure of the local body in maintaining existing amenities, Bangera said ‘pee nuisance’ continues unabated with no efforts in addressing the same. “The public toilets near the DK DC’s office, Kankanady market and near the PVS Circle are turning into  frightful places. Majority of the 20 toilets in the city stand testimony to lack of maintenance, owing to inadequate staff members and also facilities.

The area in front of the fish market near State Bank junction also remains an eyesore, the bus stand at State Bank  is a nightmare of chaos, while the prominent roads like GHS Road, Hampankatta, Market Road remains underdeveloped,” she added.

Garbage  :  Management of solid waste is another front, where too, the Corporation has failed to ensure effective mechanism. Despite paying Rs 24 crore per annum to the contractor (Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt Ltd, headquartered in Mumbai), collection and disposal of solid waste is still riddled with woes.

Reacting to media queries, Bangera said that, when the issue was brought to the notice of Mayor K Harinath, he passed the buck to the chairperson of Public Health and Education Standing Committee Kavitha Sanil, who, in turn, put the blame on health inspectors, who eventually pointed at the contractor.

Bangera further said that ‘Operation Tiger’ (a dedicated drive of MCC to evict street vendors and petty shops) has turned into a publicity stunt, so also the implementation of plastic ban and drive to recover tax dues’.