Fire in garbage dumps fuels Shiv Sena's ire

After alleging irregularities in the civic body's waste collection system, Shiv Sena corporators on Friday lambasted the civic waste contractors, and alleged that they were burning garbage, instead of collecting and disposing them at city's two dumping grounds.

After alleging irregularities in the civic body's waste collection system, Shiv Sena corporators on Friday lambasted the civic waste contractors, and alleged that they were burning garbage, instead of collecting and disposing them at city's two dumping grounds.

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Ravindra Waikar, Sena legislator and corporator from Jogeshwari, highlighted how some contractors were burning garbage instead of disposing them of.

In fact, Waikar also claimed that a young man was injured when a speeding vehicle hit him while he was trying to douse one such fire at Shiv Tekdi area in Jogeshwari. Such allegations will embarrass mayor Shraddha Jadhav, who has embarked on an ambitious mission to have a garbage-free city and launched the three-month-long zero-garbage drive on October 2.

Said Waikar, "Last week, while the city celebrated Diwali, people in Andheri and Jogeshwari were greeted with filthy streets and overflowing garbage bins. Contractors incharge of collecting waste made merry and did not collect waste for four consequent days.

On the fifth day, it was noticed that all these garbage dumps across these areas were set on fire. This is the handiwork of the same contractors, who were supposed to clear the garbage."

Sena corporators demanded an inquiry into such incidences. Rahul Shewale, standing committee chairman, said, "The administration has to inquire into this and ensure that the youth who got injured in Jogeshwari is adequately compensated by the contractor."