Prime locations in Ahmedabad face garbage problem

The newly-elected wing of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is stressing upon improving sanitation and hygiene in the city.

It has launched an intensive cleaning campaign in Ahmedabad to make it one of the cleanest cities in the country.

However, prime locations such as Corporate Road in Prahladnagar area are facing a severe garbage dumping problem. The piled-up garbage has turned out to be an ideal breeding spot for mosquitoes.

This has annoyed residents of the surrounding areas. The stinking garbage makes for a nightmarish experience whenever one passes by the road.

The civic body has identified a plot for transferring garbage collected from other areas of the city. Private contractors used to dump debris along with garbage, on the plot.

Corporate Road - the stretch from Prahladnagar Garden to Makarba crossing - is considered one of the prime locations, and houses one of the most expensive high-end residential apartment schemes in the city.

Pratik Dudhiya, corporator of Jodhpur ward who resides in the area, denied receiving any complaint about the stinking garbage. Although aware of the situation, he has not taken a single initiative or brought the problem to the notice of the solid waste department of the civic body.

Residents dwelling behind Rajpath Club will reiterate the same story. Many a times, garbage is burnt, which leads to air pollution.

"I pass by this road everyday, and find the pile of garbage increasing with every passing day," said Paresh Patel, a resident.
IK Patel, deputy municipal commissioner with AMC's health and solid waste management department, said that the present transfer stations are mere temporary arrangements.

"We are planning to shift all transfer stations to at least a kilometre away from residential areas. Moreover, all the transfer stations will be covered with proper walls," said Patel.