Days ahead of Ganpati, BMC runs out of dustbins

The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has landed in a quandary in Mumbai. It turns out that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cannot provide dustbins to residential societies, even if the corporators are ready to pay up.

Under the Abhiyan, the civic body had planned to provide two dustbins to each of the residential societies. It then purchased nearly three lakh dustbins in December last year. The societies were given two separate dustbins for wet and dry garbage. Those bins, however, have worn out now and need to be replaced.

The residential societies are now requesting the corporators for dustbins but they are helpless. It has been revealed that the civic ward offices haven't purchased dustbins for the last eight months, and it would take them another month or two to get the stock. Sources said the authority is now facing a backlash from the citizens due to its lack of foresightedness.

Last week, Shiv Sena corporator Surendra Bagalkar had put forth the demand of providing bins on an urgent basis but the civic administration had admitted its inability in doing do. Another corporator said that earlier they were even given a choice of two sizes – 120L and 240L – as per the requirement.

With the Ganpati festival fast approaching, this issue can put a serious dent on the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan's goals.