Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

CPI(M) sets out to 'rubbish' Govt. claims

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD July 15. The State Government might have kicked off a massive sanitation campaign, geared up to tackle the viral fevers, and the twin cities might have won the `Clean and green' award. But apparently, these have had no impact in some parts.

A huge dump, with all sorts of garbage, allegedly including hospital, industrial and also domestic waste, in the labyrinthine lanes of Bholkapur, rotting and stinking under the steady drizzle, was the spot chosen by the CPI(M) to expose what it called the "shallow claims'' of the Government.

Led by the State general secretary, B.V. Raghavulu, a motley crowd of activists, holding placards calling for lifting of garbage everyday, arresting spread of diseases and increasing budgetary allocation for the health sector, arrived at the Gulshannagar crossroads on Tuesday.

The locals, living in ramshackle sheds and mostly involved in dealing in scrap, poured out their woes to the CPI(M) leader and presented some children suffering from skin diseases. "We have complained to the MCH and the police, but nothing has been done. There is not even a collection bin. Yet garbage from all places is thrown here,'' lamented Shabbir.``The garbage van does come regularly, but within no time the pile forms again. Not only waste from nearby industrial units but also that of surrounding colonies is thrown here. This has been happening for more than a decade,'' complained Qutub, another resident.

Visibly taken aback at the awful sight, Mr. Raghavulu held the State Government responsible for the poor sanitation not only in the city but also all over the State. "The Government is spending crores on the Clean and green campaign, but as is evident it has been a big flop. It is being used only for propaganda purposes,'' he charged.

The Clean and green awards were a big hoax, considering the prevailing conditions in several parts. The CPI(M) leader felt that allowing private contractors to take up the clean-up job had adversely affected the sanitation, as they were only taking up "easy to do'' works.

Though the Government had realised its folly of neglecting the health sector a little late, his party was willing to cooperate in taking across the cleanliness and hygiene message. The party activists would visit all areas afflicted with unsanitary conditions to "open the eyes of the Government.''

Even while the party marshalled a truck and started dumping garbage into it, the MCH truck, along with a front loader, came onto the scene. But all this was not appreciated much by rag pickers, who started a volley of abuse against CPI(M) party activists. However, the locals prevented them from creating a scene.

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