JMC wakes up to pitiable sanitation

TNN Bureau. Updated: 5/22/2019 11:35:20 AM Front Page

To launch 19-day drive but with ‘limited manpower’

JAMMU: Waking up to strong public resentment over poor sanitation in all the seventy five (75) wards, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), on the directions of government, has finally decided to launch a nineteen-day-long special sanitation drive in all the 75 wards so as to avoid public wrath.

The JMC had been facing sharp criticism from the central government over poor sanitation and its failure to carry forward the Smart City Project which in turn is depriving the Corporation of huge funds under “Swachch Bharat Abhiyan”, sources informed.

The task has been undertaken by the Jammu Municipal Corporation with acute shortage of manpower and other resources and therefore, is unlikely to be accomplished within the stipulated time period, they said.

The JMC higher authorities have directed the concerned section of the Corporation and the staff to complete the task within 19 days but sources said that the task is “almost impossible” to be accomplished within the set time period as the Corporation is facing acute shortage of staff, especially the civic workers, vehicles like autos, dumper placers etc.

As per the figures available with The News Now, the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC), at present, has only 794 civic workers to maintain sanitation, carry out door to door garbage collection programme, clean nallahs, repair drains besides looking after other day-to-day affairs of JMC in all the 75 wards of the Corporation.

A senior officer of the JMC, wishing not to be named, said that it is not possible to complete the task in all the 75 wards in 19 days.

“There is shortage of manpower, vehicles, dumper placers to empty dustbins besides limited resources with the Corporation”, he said.

Surprisingly, he said, “The JMC, at present, is providing services in only 60 wards out of the 75 wards due to shortage of manpower”.

In this regard, health officer, JMC, Dr Mohd Saleem, when contacted, said, “The Corporation has decided to utilize services of NGOs to accomplish the task in the set time period”.

As per the decision taken by the JMC, the special sanitation drive will start after 4 PM and will be carried out in 5 to 7 wards per day. This is due to shortage of manpower and other resources.

Sources said that the JMC has also decided to recruit 600 new workers to maintain sanitation and look after other affairs of the Corporation. 3500 applicants have already applied for the posts and recruitment process will start soon.


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