Aurangabad, Jan 2:
Aurangabad had secured 26th position in the category of cities having more than 10 lakh population and 88th position in national ranking (general), in the Cleanliness Survey 2020, during the last year. Meanwhile, the citizens are eager to know which position the city would be securing, in the new year. However, they could be disappointed to know that the solid waste management (SWM) cell of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) are making little or no efforts to keep the city clean and tidy so as to elevate the position.
Three years ago, the city was reeling under the threat of garbage menace. Sensing seriousness, the state government had granted Rs 158 crore to AMC to get rid of its problem. However, the civic body failed to utilise the money properly and achieve the expected goals. The SWM cell, instead of taking consistent effort, got relieved by outsourcing the garbage collection task to a Hyderabad-based contractor. Adding to the woes, the AMC does not have any system to keep a track or monitor the garbage contractor''s performance. Meanwhile, the contractor''s whims and AMC''s mistake had pushed the citizens to suffer for their no-fault.
Every year, the Central Assessment Team of union Government arrives in the city either in the December end or the first week of January. The members pay surprise visits in the city to verify claims made by local-self-body in terms of cleanliness. Last year, the AMC and the Aurangabad Smart City Development Corporation Limited took united efforts and created a positive environment in terms of Cleanliness Campaign and Survey. It helped the city secure 26th position (in one million cities category) and 88th national ranking in the country. The city scored 3,279 marks (out of 6,000) during the last survey. It includes 645 for providing quality services to citizens; 500 for developing city free from open defecation; 1465 for citizens participation and 1018 for citizens response. During the last three years, the national level ranking of Aurangabad is as follows: 229th in 2017; 128th in 2018; 220th in 2019 and 88th in 2020.
Meanwhile, the former deputy mayor Vijay Autade said, " There is a hope of getting some aid if the city''s national ranking improves, but it has been observed that the civic administration is least bothered in elevating the position of the city for the past many years. This is unfortunate for all of us."