Bonfires, night shelters fall short

VARANASI: Even though coldwave has the region in its grip, the Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) has yet not taken the task of setting up temporary night shelters and lighting bonfires for the homeless and destitute seriously.
If the claims of VNN are to be believed, bonfires are being arranged in different places from December 13 onwards. "We have made arrangements for bonfires at 108 places that include Cantonment railway station, roadways, Lauhrabir, Maidagin, Rathyatra crossing, Godowalia, near Chitranjan Park, Kamachha, Durgakund and Lanka and many other areas," claims municipal commissioner Rajendra Singh while talking to TOI on Wednesday.This is the same agency that used to arrange bonfires at 234 points in city area till last winter season.
Contrary to the claim of VNN officials, the real picture across the city looked ridiculous when people specially small children are found escaping coldwave by burning heaps of garbage and other waste items scattered around the streets in areas like Dasaswamedh, Daranagar, Maldahiya, Lanka, Rathyatra and Sigra crossing (very near the VNN office). "We cannot see bonfires anywhere here even though the winters have reached a level when the day temperature is constantly decreasing and it is equally cold as the night," says Manoj Kumar, a roadside vendor near a shopping mall at Sigra.
Despite the fact that harsh weather conditions are increasing the death toll in the city, the VNN is yet to show promptness in setting up raenbaseras (temporary shelters). According to Singh, nearly eight temporary houses are under preparation, out of which two are functioning; however he was not clear about their exact location and operations. "Blankets, sheets, pillows and all the necessary items will be provided in these shelters," added chief engineer VNN U N Tripathi.
At the same time, many organisations, social activists and NGOs have already started burning bonfires in their areas. "We have started raenbaseras at four primary schools and two DUDA community centres, each can accommodate as many as 25 people with proper food and bedding material," said Rajiv Singh, general secretary, Shambhu Nath Upadhyaya Research Foundation.