OFFICIAL APATHY: The unhygienic conditions prevailing at Syed Ali Chabuthra in old city. — Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Hyderabad: On the lookout for garbage free spots in the old city? Shelve the idea. It is as difficult as searching for a needle in the haystack. This part of the city is strewn with litter.

Bin or no bin every corner has a heap of rubbish -- not to speak of burst pipelines and stagnant pools of water. If dengue or any other viral fever breaks out here it will be no surprise.

All the conditions needed to trigger off the dreaded disease exist. If the MCH has launched a special cleanliness drive, it is not to be seen here. At least the overflowing bins tell a different story. Lane after lane present the same pathetic picture of neglect. However, the main roads are relatively clean.

The roads around Charminar are spick and span. The two steel bins opposite the telephone exchange are empty and the disinfectant powder can be seen sprayed all over.

But go a little further down and the stark reality confronts you. Opposite the eSeva centre at Bibi ka Bazar the steel bin is brimming with refuse. "It was cleaned in the morning but it is full again. One bin is not at all sufficient," says Sabir, a flower vendor.

One can notice litter strewn on both sides of the Talab Katta road. The nala near the Bhavani Nagar police station provides the right atmosphere for mosquitoes to breed.

Though it has an iron mesh garbage can be seen dumped inside. This is not all. The carcass of a dog also lies plonk in the mess. On the road corner an open piece of plot has been turned into a junkyard.

"Things wouldn't be like this if there is regular cleaning," says Amjad, a resident echoing the views of many others.

The pathetic conditions continue in Edi Bazar, Falaknuma, Syed Ali Chabutra and Chatrinaka. Here the famous Rajanna bowli is turned into a garbage dump.

`Staff shortage'

At Hussaini Alam Kaman a bust drainage pipe spews the sewage right up to Shad cafe. On the Chelapura road the steel bin near Natraj Tailor shop brims over with refuse.

A little further inside litter can be seen all around the bin at Shams Supplying company.

"There is severe shortage of sanitary staff in the old city. Two municipal wards have only one gang and it is simply not possible for them to attend to every area," says Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi. He wants small vehicles like `bobcats' to be deployed for garbage removal in narrow lanes.

Chikungunya yesterday and dengue today -- this truly is the reality of unclean Hyderabad and its ugly underbelly today. Highlight problems of unsanitary conditions in your neighbourhood by mailing to downtownhyd@thehindu.co.in or call up 23417777 between noon and 6 p.m.

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