Policymaker lends a hand for cleaner Hyderabad
ASCI works out garbage areas for GHMC to focus on.
Hyderabad: Charminar, Rajendranagar, Khairatabad and Abids have the highest number of garbage vulnerable points, that is, large open garbage dumps.
A study in 24 circles of the GHMC carried out with the assistance of the Administrative Staff College of India has identified LB Nagar, Khairatabad, Alwal and Kukatpally as performing poorly with regard to maintenance of garbage vulnerable points.
In some wards, the area is huge and the bulk collection points are few. The study analysed the operations of Swachh autos and tricycles, manpower (sanitary staff) and density (households/area) of each circle.
An ASCI officer said the circles that have the highest slum population have been identified as having many garbage vulnerable points.
"The main reason for open points is that residents cannot afford to pay the garbage collection fee hence they dispose it of on the main roads. It is a challenge for the assistant medical health officers of these circles to bring about a change in behaviour of residents. All that is needed in these wards is more sanitary staff and swachh tricycles," he said.
The wards with fewer GVPs are Serilingampally (11, 12), RC Puram and PTC-13 and Quthbullapur. Alwal was in the GVP zone earlier; however, sanitary staff of the GHMC has eliminated some of the open dumps.
GHMC's additional commissioner, health and sanitation, Ravi Kiran, said 68 per cent of GVPs had been eliminated through a three-pronged approach of efficient collection system, one-time clearance and rangoli at the site and replacement with bins.
"In wards that are still vulnerable, different strategies will be framed to create public awareness, and provide more staffing and infrastructure. Work has started in Charminar and Alwal circles," he said.
The GHMC took the help of the ASCI to conduct the scientific study of GVPs. Studies revealed that there were 1,109 GVPs across 24 circles. Through a mobile app, real-time data regarding quantity and type of waste, surrounding land use, and reasons for the prevailing situation was collected.