Ranchi Monsoon Preparedness: Sanitation Challenges Ahead of Rains

Ranchi: Mounting pressure on city’s sanitation system ahead of the monsoon came under sharp focus on Monday as the municipal corporation reviewed preparedness across all 53 wards.

The meeting, chaired by mayor Roshni Khalkho, was attended by ward councillors and officials from the sanitation and health branch.

Key concerns included shortage of sanitation workers, poor garbage collection in narrow lanes, irregular drain cleaning and the need to intensify anti-mosquito measures before the rains begin.

Councillors said the workforce is proving inadequate in several densely populated wards, where waste generation has increased. RMC has around 2,500 sanitation workers.

Ward 17 councillor Fatima Sameem said her area was under particular strain because of the presence of schools and religious institutions. “There are several schools, temples, mosques and churches in the ward. The existing labour force was unable to reach residential areas after managing the main stretches. On our request, around 10 additional sanitation workers are being provided, which may bring some relief,” she said.

She also pointed to the continuing waste problem on Kasai Mohalla Road. “Garbage keeps piling up and managing it is not easy,” she said.

Officials discussed deploying smaller garbage vehicles and rickshaw carts in congested settlements and narrow lanes where large compactors cannot enter regularly. Plans were also reviewed for weekly cleaning of major drains, covering open drains, removing encroachments that obstruct drainage flow, and carrying out regular fogging and bleaching powder spraying.

The mayor said preparations had already begun to prevent garbage accumulation and mosquito-related problems during the rainy season. “The corporation is working on strengthening sanitation systems at the ward level so that residents face minimum inconvenience during monsoon,” she said.