Citizens win cleanliness competition against BMC

G-North (Dadar) citizens to celebrate as they won the cleanliness competition against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). (Representational image)

AFTER three months of hard work, it was time for G-North (Dadar) citizens to celebrate as they won the cleanliness competition against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Faculty from the Welingkar Institute of Management, the third party auditors of the competition, announced the results at the municipal commissioner’s chamber in BMC headquarters Friday. Evaluated out of 100 marks, citizens scored 63, five marks more than the civic staff who scored 58.

Following an idea suggested by local MNS corporator Sandip Deshpande, two teams were formed in November last year and allotted to maintain specific lanes in Dadar for three months. “The team formed by the corporator and citizens was given six lanes around Shivaji Park and the team from BMC was given the lanes around Siddhivinayak. The BMC approached us to conduct an impartial audit and submit a report,” said Captain V N Kanade, general manager (operations) at Welingkar. Over 100 residents of Dadar participated in the competition.

Assistant commissioner Sharad Ughade from G-North ward also handed over 13 parameters on the basis of which the institute would evaluate the two teams. The parameters included road cleanliness, collection of household waste, usage of plastic bags, footpath and divider cleanliness among others. “We formed six teams of six people each comprising faculty members and students who visited the spots thrice a day, for a period of 12 days in January. Judges also noted observations to help them assess the two teams better,” said Professor Dr Uday Salunkhe, group director, Welingkar.

Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said that BMC was thinking of replicating the model in other wards. “Irrespective of who the winner is, the final outcome is that cleanliness in the entire area has improved. We will try to refine the parameters and conduct more competitions to encourage citizens to participate more actively in such drives.”