Supporters complain of poor sanitation at ground, civic agency refutes allegations

First they failed to provide the entire ground and now the MCD is being accused of failing to meet sanitation standards at the Ramlila Maidan.

First they failed to provide the entire ground and now the MCD is being accused of failing to meet sanitation standards at the Ramlila Maidan.

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On Sunday, as the supporters’ number at the maidan crossed 60,000, the organisers claimed that agency’s sanitation services were questionable.

Refuting these claims, the MCD said more than 300 tonnes of garbage — almost one-third of the garbage produced daily by Delhi — was removed from the site on Sunday.

Arvind Kejriwal, a Team Anna member, said despite several reminders about the slush, waterlogging at the venue and garbage on the ground’s periphery, the MCD done little about the issues which might lead to problems among protesters.

“More than 50 trucks carrying garbage have been sent to two landfill sites. Despite it being an off day, our workers worked through the day. People are throwing water and food packets, and the kitchen workers are dumping leftovers inside the venue. The organisers should keep an eye on them, too,” said a senior MCD official.

MCD officials said the sanitation staff has been working round-the-clock to ensure garbage is lifted from the ground and anti-larval measures are taken.

“Though it is Janmashtmi tomorrow our leaves have been cancelled. People coming here don’t have any civic sense and though dustbins have been provided garbage was strewn everywhere,” said Rajesh Kumar, a sanitation worker who began work at 8 am and continued till 10 pm.

While most part of the ground was provided to the organisers on Sunday, the MCD said the rest will be made available to the organisers soon.

“We covered the ground’s waterlogged area with chip stones. The carpets laid by the organisers were wet which led to the entire place becoming muddy,” added the official.

Mayor Rajni Abbi also visited the ground. “We are ensuring that anti-mosquito spray is done and the garbage generated is lifted,” she said.

Field day for ragpickers during march
Eleven-year-old Ashish (name changed), a rag picker, had a hectic though profitable Sunday. As Hazare’s supporters munched on snacks from roadside vendors during the march, Ashish and his family of three paid close attention to their every move. “We were at the Ramlila Maidan when someone waving a flag told us everyone was coming to India Gate, where we usually are on the weekends,” Ashish said as he lugged an evidently heavy plastic rucksack filled with rubbish. HTC