Vrindavan, 2017.04.02 (AU, DJ): On Saturday, the Mathura District Magistrate Nitin Bansal sent all associate DMs (ADM, SDM) to conduct a surprise inspection of the major towns and municipal bodies of the district. He himself inspected the municipality of Mathura. The other officers also looked at some government offices including the Collectorate and district hospitals. Deputy Collector Garima Singh conducted the inspection of Vrindavan.
The dirtiest place was found to be Vrindavan, with Raya coming in second. The DM threatened the Executive Officers of these areas with cutting salaries of cleaning staff and cleaning workers associated with these areas until a proper explanation is given.
DM Nitin Bansal
After the inspection on Saturday, all the SDMs gave their report related to their area to the DM. The District Magistrate said that the most dirt in the district was observed in the Vrindavan Municipality. It was said that the Parikrama Marg is also very dirty, with piles of garbage scattered everywhere. Even the potholes are full of litter. The areas around Banke Bihari, the ISKCON temple and other important public areas were all found not to meet satisfactory standards of cleanliness.
This is a worrisome situation for Vrindavan, which is increasingly becoming a center of attraction for devotees. The DM has sent notice to the EO demanding a report and explanation for the situation within three days.
ADM Finance and Revenue Rakshidra Kumar inspected the so-called “Hundred Bed” Hospital. He found that the doctor on duty was absent from the Emergency Ward. He expressed anger over the dirt in the hospital. Chief Medical Officer Dr. R.K. Nayyar found numerous defects in District Women’s Hospital: plaster was crumbling with the walls, grills and windows were broken and there was lack of cleanliness in the hospital premises. Drains are not being cleaned in the district hospital.
According to the SDM reports, cleaning standards are not being met in Kosikalan, nor in the Nagar Panchayats of Mahavan, Baldev, and Saunkh. DM has issued notices to all the EO for explanation. In addition, he also ordered the cutting of one day’s salary for regional cleaning workers and managers
MP Hemamalini has also raised concerns about the garbage situation in Vrindavan with the administrative officers many times.
Editorial Comment
These small garbage cans that have been put in some neighborhoods are a bad idea for several reasons. First of all, they are inadequate and people don’t use them. Second, they are open and monkeys easily access the contents and throw them every which way in their search for food. And finally they are not regularly emptied and maintained by the municipal workers.
Here at Vrindavan Today we have spoken many times about the cleanliness problem. Swachch Bharat is a noble endeavor that no one in India can refuse to support. There have been improvements in several areas in Vrindavan and some of the less frequented streets look a lot better than they did.
However, there seems to be, even with all the noise and publicity, a lack of seriousness about the issue in the general populace. Spending money on foolish schemes like these garbage cans in the Vrindavan municipality will be a complete waste unless the people are educated and motivated to themselves clean up their act.
Police need to be conscious of littering, especially in front of tea stalls and other shops, which routinely scatter cups and wrappers everywhere. Shopkeepers who do not keep their area clean should be fined. Local citizen groups need to be formed to maintain local standards. An investment needs to be made in programs that support collective consciousness of the problem and also give practical methods of solving them, and punishment for those who do not maintain the standards. The problem is a societal one, which cannot be thrust on the cleaning workers alone.
Swachch Bharat is an important movement in India. It is a question of national pride. For Hindus, India is a holy land, filled with many places of pilgrimage that remind its people of the spiritual purpose of life. These sacred places, like Vrindavan, need to reflect the piety and devotion of the Hindu population. Otherwise, it brings Hinduism itself into disrepute. Jai Radhe.
These dumpsters have been place everywhere on the Parikrama Marg. They are unsightly and often extremely filthy, damaged and placed on the road in an unaesthetic fashion. They too are easy prey for street animals and irregularly maintained. The image here is actually a fairly _good_ situation. Many are much worse.
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