03 October,2023 08:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Prajakta Kasale
Representation Pic
There is a growing tussle between CM Eknath Shinde and the BMC administration after the latter could not implement repeated instructions from CM over keeping cleanliness on roads and public toilets. After visiting Kurla SRA on Sunday, the CM visited two more spots in Dadar on Monday to check the status.
The BMC held a meeting on Tuesday to discuss improving facilities for sanitation workers to improve cleanliness at toilets and keeping the city garbage-free. There were at least two meetings held in September on the same issues, but there hasn't been any change seen on the grounds.
CM Shinde had given clear instructions on September 1 to clean all the garbage spots in public areas as well as clean public toilets five times a day. The BMC issued many press notes about the same but in reality, the complaints of garbage spots and uncleanliness in toilets haven't been reduced drastically.
On Sunday, after a one-hour cleanliness drive under the "Swachta Hi Seva" campaign, the CM gave a surprise visit to Vatsalatai Naik Nagar SRA colony in Kurla and asked the residents whether the toilet is being cleaned five times a day. After getting a negative response from them, he warned strict action to the accompanied BMC officials. Shinde also instructed the commissioner I S Chahal to take stringent action against the concerned officers in areas where public toilets are not being cleaned five times a day.
On Monday, the CM visited two more colonies, Gautam Nagar in Dadar East and Kasarwadi in Dadar West with MLAs Sada Sarwankar and Kalidas Kolambar to check the cleanliness in the area. Municipal Commissioner Chahal also accompanied him. The CM spoke to local residents to check the reality.
"Though initially the CM was supposed to visit other areas, at the last moment he changed the plan and visited these spots. But he wasn't that much upset today," said an official from the BMC on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, the commissioner called up a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue of toilet cleaning as well as garbage spot elimination after stringent instructions from the CM. There were at least two meetings in September on the same issue but there hasn't been a drastic change on the field.
