18 labourers to clean 12 municipal wards

Bicholim: The Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) has commenced work of cleaning gutters and nullahs in all 12 of its wards from the first week of April.
Speaking to TOI, BMC chairperson Satish Gaonkar, said, "This year the number of wards has been increased from 10 to 12 and hence we have deployed about altogether 18 labourers to undertaker cleaning activities, ward-wise."
Gaonkar further informed that to smoothen the process, the labourers have been divided into two batches, while the wards have been divided into two divisions."Accordingly, the nine workers in batch one will look after the cleanliness of wards one to six, which have been allotted to them, while the nine workers in batch two will look after the remaining six wards," he added.
Chief officer BMC Bhanudas Naik, said, "The cleanliness drive will be finished by May 15."
Despite BMC having commenced work, people of ward 11 are worried as the gutters in their ward have been not been touch till now.
"The gutters in our area have not been cleaned for the past few years, as a result of which dirty water has been stagnating, which emanates foul smell. Besides plastic and other material are also found in the gutters," said a businessman from the area, Sudesh Chodankar.
He went on to say that the problem is so critical near the Deendayal Bhavan that nobody can pause there for a second due to the stink. "At least, this year, I hope that this particular gutter, which is located in the heart of the city, at Sonar Peth, Bicholim, will be cleaned properly before monsoon. Our councillor Kundan Falari should treat this as a serious issue," he said.
Ward 3 faces a similar problem. There is no provision for collected water to flow as a result of which dirty water has been stagnating in this ward for the last few months, making it an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
"Our councillor Medha Bordekar attempted to get the gutters cleaned, but due to the peculiar slope of the land there it was not possible," said a resident of Bordem, Bicholim, Sainath Pal, adding that if the water has to be given a channel to flow out then the slope of gutter will have to be changed, which means digging and repairing.
Gaonkar has assured to look into the issues faced by wards 11 and three.
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