Ward commissioner vents anger against graft in civic body

LOHARDAGA: Social activist and commissioner of ward No 21 of the civic body in Lohardaga Manoram Ekka gave vent to her anger and annoyance against the corruption within the municipality and the inactiveness of the authorities, while responding to questions on garbage being dumped illegally at Dusshera grounds here.
“I am fed up of complaining against corruption and negligence within the civic body.This kind of failure in the democratic system encourages many to join hands with Maoists,” said Ekka.
The illegal dumping has been a persistent problem here she said. “For more than one year I have been repeatedly protesting against this but the municipality officials have never paid any heed to my complaints. The Dussehra ground has a historical importance. The annual Dussehra fair is held here. It serves as an ideal playground and many learn driving here. This ground is connected to Baxi Deepa reserve forest and the garbage collected from various parts of the city and dumped here affects the wildlife badly. It is equally harmful for the local residents,” she said.
The civic body has been provided enough money for implementing Solid Waste Management programme but due to the lackadaisical attitude and inactiveness of the municipality authorities, this Rs 4.47-crore-project has remained pending for over five years.
“The project work that should have ideally started with selection of land nevertheless kicked off with buying dustbins, tractors, trolleys and some other items worth Rs 1.12 crore with a clear aim of misappropriation. This was later proved as a probe committee of the district administration revealed that these things were purchased at a much higher rate than their actual prices. The articles purchased are gathering dust as there is no proper place to store them in the office of the civic body, Ekka said. Illegal dumping at the Dussehra ground is not an isolated example, there are other places too in the heart of the town where garbage is being dumped, said Ekka.
The matter went for hearing in the court and a former executive officer Nirmal Kumar Singh, was even suspended but no action has still been taken against others involved in the fraud in purchasing the articles. The present executive engineer, Naval Kishore Singh said land filling site is being explored to restart the project of Solid Waste Management. Referring to garbage being dumped illegally at Dussehra Maidan he said, “the municipal body plans to expand the ground by filling the hollow sides. We will cover the garbage with sand soon.”
“The municipality has been doing nothing to make the environment pollution free. Bad odour has made breathing difficult for us as waste collected from septic tanks through suction machines are also being dumped here,” said Dimbu Oraon, a forest guard who lives in the reserve forest’s nursery near the Maidan. Several residents said they have been protesting against this malpractice and have registered several complaints at the municipality but no steps have been taken yet to address this problem. “It is not possible for us to guard the ground round the clock,” said one local resident.