Garbage poses threat to public health in Nizamabad

Nizamabad: The terrible sanitation conditions in Nizamabad municipal corporation limits are now a threat to public health.

Garbage is piling up in residential colonies and commercial areas of the town, as the sanitation staff of the corporation finds itself unable to take up a cleanliness drive  which is the need of the hour. Shortage of staff and sanitation equipment have worsened the unsanitary conditions in the town. There are 50 municipal divisions in the town, but not one has suitable equipment  to remove the garbage.

 According to sources in the sanitation wing of the corporation, garbage in metric tonnes is generated in the town, but every day at least 25 per cent garbage is left over in the town. As a result, garbage is piled up on main roads and stuck in drains.

Speaking to this correspondent, Nizamabad Municipal corporation commissioner D. Sam Johnson said that the ‘Swachh Sarvekshan’ programme would improve the unhygienic conditions in the town soon.

“Earlier, Nizamabad municipal corporation stood at 178th  rank in sanitation, now we are planning to improve our  ranking with collective efforts,” he explained. “The Swachh Sarvekshan programme is aiming to improve community involvement in the sanitation works,” he said.

On the other hand, vacancies in the sanitation wing are adversely affecting the sanitation works in Nizamabad. There has been no regular recruitment of workers for several years. Officials are continuing the work with the help of contract and outsourced workers.

Middlemen’s involvement in sanitation agencies  led to high expenses, but the results are low. Workers are eagerly waiting  for uniforms, soaps, gloves and other cleaning equipment from the corporation, but they don’t receive them  regularly.

Meanwhile, corporation officials are planning to develop dumping yards and other solid waste-management related works. Modernisation of slaughter houses has been  proposed at a cost of `1 crore. It is believed automatic sweeping machines, compactors, tractors and trollies would improve the  cleanliness of the town.

Meanwhile, Nizamabad is vulnerable to diseases like dengue and malaria fevers.