No change even after 1 year of Swachh Bharat
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 22 2015:
Although, the National Cleanliness Mission (Swachh Bharat Mission) is being implemented across the country to clean up the streets, roads and infrastructure, the State has not witnessed any visible change regarding people's responsibilities and authority's effectiveness towards maintaining cleanliness in the past one year.
Swachh Bharat Mission was launched on Gandhi Jayanti (October 2) last year at Rajghat, New Delhi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself cleaned the road.
Under Central Government's directives, the same mission was launched in the State as well on the same day assigning the major responsibility of implementing the campaign to PHED.
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At the district level, the subordinate offices of respective Deputy Commissioner's office coordinate with PHED in organising the programmes related to Swachh Bharat.
Now, a year has passed and the state of cleanliness remains the same in the State, it was found during a random survey conducted by this reporter.
Neither people are yet to learn to keep garbage in dustbins or a proper place nor the authority concerned has introduced an effective method to impart awareness to the public to keep the surroundings clean.
In most of the markets of the State, vendors, shopkeepers, shoppers and residents do not bother to put waste materials in dustbins or throw at proper places, it was found.
According to an official source, Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) has entrusted different NGOs to collect garbage from different localities of greater Imphal area.
Anybody who dumps or throws garbage at improper places may be slapped a fine of Rs 500 under Manipur Municipality Act 1998, the source said.
However, the Government machinaries are active only during Gandhi Jayanti celebrations and the campaign disappears slowly with each passing day.
The Government needs to work together with the public throughout the year to make the campaign successful.
However, Swachh Bharat related programmes like cleanliness drives, mass rallies, streets plays and students' competitions students are visible only during Gandhi Jayanti celebration.
Clogged drains and piles of garbage are still seen everywhere including hospital areas, Government office complexes, marketplaces and major roads indicating that there is little change in the State in the past one year.
Lack of coordination among different Government Departments is another reason for making the streets dirty.
On many occasions, roads are dug up for laying underground cables and water pipes just after a few days of being black topped.
Roads are also dug up for sewerage project related works at different places making the surroundings dusty.
On the other hand, no town of the State has proper public toilets and urinals as well.