Delayed garbage collection adds to summer woes in the city

Jaipur: Irregular garbage collection has become a daily problem for many Jaipur residents, but the situation has worsened during the ongoing heatwave. In several localities, waste collection vehicles are either arriving late or without helpers, forcing residents to leave garbage outside their homes for hours.

Locals say the lack of fixed timings for garbage hoppers has made daily waste disposal unpredictable. In many areas, people wait through the morning only to find no helper accompanying the vehicle. As a result, many people, especially elderly residents, are left carrying garbage to the vehicle themselves or keeping it outside their houses until the next round.

Ashok Sen from the Pratap Nagar area said, “Sometimes the garbage hopper comes so late that stray animals tear open the bags lying outside. In this heat, the smell becomes unbearable and it becomes difficult to even stand outside the house.”

Drivers and helpers working on garbage hoppers say they are also struggling with increasing workload and extreme temperatures. According to sanitation workers, one vehicle is expected to cover nearly 10 to 12 lanes every day, with staff working from around 6 am till nearly 8 pm.

“We are trying to cover as much area as possible, but it becomes very difficult during peak afternoon heat,” said one hopper driver. “At least we sit inside the vehicle, but helpers remain outside throughout the shift. By afternoon, many of them are exhausted.”

Another sanitation worker said residents often blame workers without understanding the workload. “People think we are delaying intentionally, but one vehicle is covering a huge area. If there are traffic jams or delays in one locality, the entire route gets affected,” he said.

The Jaipur Municipal Corporation currently operates 213 garbage hoppers, including 113 owned by the civic body and 100 running on contract, covering nearly 400 sq km of the city.

A civic official, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted that the shortage of hoppers was affecting operations. “The city area has expanded and additional vehicles are needed. The corporation is planning fresh tenders and efforts are being made to improve the system,” the official said.