Cleanliness still a far cry in Guwahati

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Sept 23: While Swachh Bharat Mission has seemingly acquired the top spot in the agenda of the Central Government as well as the State Government, the purpose for which the same has been introduced appears to be defeated to a significant extent. There is no dearth of areas or spots in the city and also elsewhere across the State and the country that are littered with huge garbage dumps that emit unbearable foul smell.

As of now 58 NGOs are engaged in the collection of garbage in 38 wards of Guwahati. Further, some local bodies are also engaged in the exercise of keeping their local areas clean. While on paper that is the backdrop, yet there seems to be no dearth of localities in the city that are known for roadside garbage dumps which emit foul smell to the discomfort of the nearby people.

One such spot is located near the Wireless area in Beltola where a huge dustbin is in place. Yet the huge garbage dump that liters the area give a harrowing time to the passer-bys and others. The stinking smell that emit from the area has made life miserable for the nearby people.

Venting their ire against the GMC authorities for allegedly not being sincere in their task, the residents of the locality have opined that even the nearby people should be blamed in the sense that they litter the area by throwing the garbage haphazardly and not dumping the same in the dustbin.

Some other areas where such garbage littered spots are found are located at Ganeshguri , Fancy Bazar to name just a few. Talking to The Sentinel, the Fancy Bazar shop keepers have complained that garbage from the dustbins are not regularly cleared by the authorities. The result being that they have a difficult time to carry out their business on account of foul smell emitting from such garbage.

The traders have said that the NGOs engaged by the GMC authorities are being regularly paid their dues and yet the organizations are not regular or sincere in performing their duties. They have also said that on certain occasions they engage cleaners at their own cost to make the area clean.

That being the gloomy and dirty scenario at the ground level, it now remains to be seen as to needful steps to be taken by the authorities to make the Swachh Bharat Mission a reality.