Citizens of Hyderabad fume as garbage is burnt
GHMC workers assigned to pick up garbage, have been neglecting their duties
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-05-07 01:19 GMT
HYDERABAD: Despite several complaints from residents, tons of garbage continues to get piled up on the roads of plush areas like Marredpally, Kukatpally etc.
GHMC workers, who have been assigned to pick up garbage on a daily basis, have been neglecting their duties here, say residents. Not just dumping, but there is also frequent garbage burning that emits hazardous gases, leading to health issues.
The East Marredpally road that leads to the Talwalkars Gym, Ratnadeep and residential apartments to the right has a long stretch of garbage piled up outside the compound wall of a private property belonging to Deewan Bahadur Seth Ramgopal.
Repeated complaints from the family have fallen on deaf ears.
H.K. Malani, whose late grandfather owned the property and who lives next door, said, “We have made several complaints to the corporation. Last year after continuously complaining for four months, the GHMC authorities finally attended to the problem and cleared garbage. But after that, there has been no regulation as people have started dumping garbage again and many burn it. We have complained again and we are waiting for them to get it cleared.”
Yadamma, caretaker of the property, said, “They do not come regularly to collect garbage from here. We have told them many times, but they just don’t pay any attention.”
Alok Gaurav, manager at the Ratnadeep store, said they have not approached the corporation so far. “It is definitely a major issue. We will report about it soon,” he said.
Prasad G, the manager at Talwalkars said the stench from the garbage pile was a major inconvenience for their clients. “Garbage is dumped even on the road. When RTC buses pass by, scrap gets hurled in the air and spread in the area. It is unpleasant for our clients who come to work out at the gym,” he said.
Jayaprakash Nambaru of I Go Green Foundation said, “Many lorry tyres are burnt behind Metro mall, near Y-junction, Kukatpally. More than 20 complaints have been lodged on 155304, but nothing has been done.”
Meanwhile, GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar issued an ultimatum to all sanitation officers in the city to ensure that garbage is lifted in the next two days or face suspension.
A source at GHMC said that the property behind the garbage dump is currently not inhabited, but will be converted into a residential apartment soon. “We were waiting for them to clear the garbage,” the source said.
Meanwhile, GHMC union leaders on Tuesday made it clear to the officials that they would go on a strike and stop all garbage lifting and road sweeping operations in the city if private agency Ramky is allowed to take up garbage lifting and its transportation within the city limits.
The union leaders also demanded an inquiry into GHMC making Rs 5 crore payment to Ramky group. Other main demands of the union leaders include cancellation of the agreement between the Ramky and GHMC, to extend enhanced salary to all the outsourcing employees (currently confined to only sweepers), to purchase new vehicles, to blacklist contractors involved in irregularities and scams.
Greater Hyderabad municipal employees union president Udhari Gopal also sought a CID inquiry into functioning of VSPN agency that looks after ESI and PF of GHMC outsourcing staff.
The officials told the representatives that the file pertaining to applicability of enhanced salaries to all categories of outsourcing employees is under process and expressed confidence that a positive result is expected.