Dustbin-free city? The wait continues

Jaipur: Residents will have to wait for a few more months before the city can become open depot free as regularisation of door-to-door waste collection is yet to be completed.
JMC-Greater mayor Somya Gurjar in the last executive committee conducted in November had said work on a proposal to make the city open depot free will start from the New Year, but vendors have not been assigned for waste collection in five zones of JMC-Greater.
Officials said dumping of waste on roads has reduced, but it will take time to remove all open depots.
“Open waste dumping spots are reducing gradually and work is on to make the city open depot free. One of the major waste dumping points outside SMS Hospital has been cleared following regular inspections and instructions to officials. Similarly, more open waste dumping spots are being cleared on a regular basis,” said Mahendra Soni, commissioner, JMC-Greater.
He said a major problem in the city is with stretches where there are several commercial outlets. “We are focusing more on those areas,” he added.
The city at present has 50 open depots approximately, said officials.
He said waste collection and cleanliness system in the city will further improve after vendors are finalised for five zones of JMC-Greater, the “tenders for which is in the final stages.”
In November, after the executive committee meeting, JMC-Greater mayor Somya Gurjar had said, “On the proposal of preparing an action plan to improve the cleanliness of Jaipur city, suggestion was received from members of the executive committee that open depots should be removed.”
“It was unanimously decided in that meeting that work will be done to make the city open depot free. Along with this, due to open depots, wherever potholes or trenches have come up, a solid structure will be constructed by filling them. We are hoping that work on this proposal will start from the New Year,” Gurjar had said.