A Sample Survey has been initiated by District Administration and PHED for assessing the underlying ground realities and problems of proper garbage disposal system that stands as a deterrent to clean and green environment in Dibrugarh town areas.
In this regard, the task of surveying the areas under Ward No- 16 that includes residences, hotels, shops, salons, schools, colleges and government offices was given to DU SBM team members in an orientation program held by PHED authorities in their office premises.
As per the direction, the DU SBM team on March' 5, started off the survey by meeting the Ward Commissioner, Bajrang Mittal who thoroughly made us understand the areas to be visited under his Ward, that is, Ward No -16.
RKB Path:
On first day of our sample survey, we visited commercial establishments and hotels, on one side of Thana Chariali, opposite of Sadar Thana. In that lane, the toilet and kitchen condition of a reputed restaurant was not found to be satisfactory and a fast food vendor was seen not using proper means to wash their used utensils that seemed to filth the pavements with unclean water. It was observed that pavement vendors including fast food ones, had license issued by DMB. Shops were found to have dustbins while pavement littering here and there was a common site. Designated dustbin conditions were not satisfactory that were littered with both degradable and bio degradable wastes.
Jhalukpara:
We started our survey by visiting Jhalukpara area which is a commercial hub consisting of shops, hotel, pan shops, fast food vendors and interacted with the proprietors and owners to comprehend the issues pertaining to use of designated garbage bins, blocked and littered drains. We even enquired about the pickup mediums that are being engaged by Dibrugarh Municipality Board (DMB) to collect garbages from designated dustbins, how do they have been operating and are the concerned people satisfied with their work. The people said all wastes are disposed off in designated dustbins by them and are duly cleared off by DBM on the following day but pathetically condition of drains remains the same as they are not cleared off but littered with plastics and garbages. We further took notice of personal dustbins for individual shop or hotel owners and check the condition of toilets, kitchen areas of individual hotels and restaurants even checked the quality of the drinking water. Hotels had satisfactory and hygienic toilet, kitchen conditions with filtered drinking water facilities. Most of the shops were found to have personal dustbins and those not having, been asked to keep one. The pan shops were seen to have cartons in front of their shop were wastes were disposed, while haircutting salons gather their wastes which are then disposed by them in designated dustbin.
H.S. Road:
One side of HS Road that is ,the line heading from Mogambo Restaurant to Kalpana Hotel near Gandhi Statue was surveyed which is the hub of numerous shops, restaurants and private schools. All the restaurants including sweet shops were duly surveyed; the kitchen, toilet and drinking water facilities were reviewed, and were found to be in compliance of sanitation rules. On being questioned about their food waste disposal, the hotel and restaurant owners said, all food wastes on daily basis are taken away to feed pigs. It was observed shops polythene bags made of cloth are in use and no evidence of plastics was found in use by any shops. The use of paper bags was seen in a few shops.
The overflow of designated dustbins and littering of pavements was found throughout the concerned location. It was observed that dustbins needed to be cleaned two times a day and that size of designated dustbins are much constricted in comparison to the amount of garbage trashed in them.
As part of the survey, we visited Balika Sadan and Sacred Heart School, which are located in Ward No 16, and both the schools were found to keep their surrounding clean with dustbins and proper toilet and drinking water facilities. As regards to Mid Day meal scheme at Balika Sadan School, the kitchen condition was found to be hygienic. The authorities of Sacred Heart School, while welcoming the clean Dibrugarh town initiative, said that to sustain the same the diaspora of peoples’ awareness and involvement in keeping the town is indispensable together with DMB as time of cleaning the trash should be done in early hours not in office of school time that may detrimental to public and students health.
AT Road:
Under Ward No-16 in the busiest AT Road area was found to have no designated dustbins that houses hotels, shops, big commercial establishment like Big Bazaar, religious shrine Gurudwara. Toilet and drinking water in concerned hotels were satisfactorily maintained whereas food wastes from hotels were disposed off for feeding pigs and other wastes were disposed off in dustbins located nearby. Not a single shop had dustbins before their shops as they were said to be lifted away by rag pickers. Pan shops and fast food vendors had place cartons before their shops or stalls. Pavement littering, blocked drains are the common factors of unclean environment.
DTP Dyke:
The entire stretch of DTP dyke was observed having littering points on both side of the elongated track and it was learnt that quite a few shops and residences located in Marwaripatty heading towards the Dyke were in the habit of thrashing away their garbage’s in the riverside. Noticeably, the paper and plastic wrappers scraps give a disgraceful sight. Although dustbin structures are seen alongside the track, there use and cleaning of the DTP stretch can hardly be assumed.
Phoolbagan ( AT Road):
On this elongate stretch that houses government offices, shops and Court Building, commercial shops, hotels and street vendors, only one designated dustbin was spotted, yet littered pavements and clogged drains where seen along the roadway. Moreover, a lane adjacent to Lakshminath Bezbaruah Udyan that leads to DTP dyke was found to have garbage littered clogged drains that seemed to be used as non designated littering spots. The offices (State and Forest seem to have dustbins but toilet facilities was not that satisfactory, while some offices had filter a few had tube well. The premise of Dibrugarh State Dispensary & Urban Health Centre, was seen to have proper dustbins and water facility but public toilet was not well maintained.
We surveyed the premises of District Agricultural Office / Divisional Forest Officer. The interior of the District Agricultural Office was found to be clean with proper drinking water facility and hygienic sanitary toilet system. Dustbins were also being used for office purpose. The frontyard and backyard of the office were dirt free.
On the contrary the drinking water and toilet facility were not found to be satisfactory at the office of the Divisional Forest Officer. The toilet was not hygienically maintained as for drinking water the officials drank water from the tubewell that seemed not to be safe. The backyard of the office was littered with trash and paan stains. The office had a water tank that seemed not be cleaned for a long period of time. Dustbin is being used.
Jail Road:
This area comprising of Jail quarters, private residences and a few shops was found to be worst maintained with heaps of garbages littered here and there, while condition of only 1 (one) designated dustbin was worst to be stated. Drains were not cleaned and plastics with other garbages were seen to be burnt in open by the people in open space. While interacting with a few residents living in the jail quarters and those in their private homes , said their household trash were picked up by DMB garbage vehicles, while a few living in quarters said they burned up the paper and plastic trashes and household kitchen wastes were decompose in their backyard. Although, DMB were regular in collecting the wastes yet the whole area was found not to be dirt free especially the condition of designated dustbin was awful.
Police Reserve;
Surveying, the one side of Police Reserve area that falls within the ambit of 16 Number Ward, we came across a very clean and green surrounding with no sign of any trash or dirt lying unclean. We visited the CRPF Battlion located within the Police Reserve and talked with the concerned authorities who informed us that in a fixed location in their backyard all garbages are duly disposed off.
We even called upon the families who lived in the Police Reserve quarters and enquired about their way of garbage disposal system. In reply, the concerned residents said their daily trashes are picked up by the DBM garbage vans on day to day basis. They expressed no concern with regard to waste clearance.
Red Cross Road:
While surveying the Red Cross Area, we came across littering points along the roadway. No designated dustbins were spotted. The littering points smelled of stinking dirt with degradable and bio degradable wastes disposed off in same place and point presenting an appalling scene.
During the survey we paid visits to the concerned households who said they were in the habit of flaming their household trashes in their backyard including polythene. On learning we informed the bad effects of burning polythene on our health and on learning they guaranteed us of not doing so. All residents had their holding numbers.
Mancotta Road:
The thoroughfare from Thana Chariali to Phoolbagan was just had one Designated Dustbin opposite of Shani Mandir Road and its condition was worst as it could be during the day. Although said to be cleaned by DBM, the entire day’s waste projected a pitiable and polluted sight to the passerby’s including the business establishments surrounding the location. Littering points and blocked stinking drains were seen along the road and pavements on one side of Mancotta Road (opposite of Khaleel market) that houses series of commercial establishments, restaurants, Bank and Government office that comes under the ambit of 16 Number Ward.
In course of our survey, the premise of Inspector of Schools was visited and on meeting the concerned officials we inspected the toilet and water condition and it was found to be satisfactory. Gents and women employees had separate toilets. Dustbins were being used.
Shani Mandir Road:
The street had no designated dustbin and garbage’s are thrown away at the designated dustbin just opposite the lane. The road had its share of dirt too. The worst part of the road was narrow housing colony with unclean drains and filth. People living in that grubby place seemed to have no urge for cleanliness. Further, we visited Marwari Hindi High School and Agrasen Academy as part of our survey. At Marwari Hindi High School that houses a Primary Section, toilet and drinking water facilities were average as taps were used for drinking and toilet condition was average too. But the school premise with ample plantation inside the school campus was clean and dirt free. Both the schools followed the basic hygienic rules with clean toilets and proper drinking water facilities. Dustbin was used in each classroom. As for Agrasen Academy, the school premises was hygienically well maintained with untainted sanitary toilet condition, and pure drinking water facility was provided to the students. Overall the schools had satisfactory sanitation condition.
The Mandir premise as observed was well maintained and looked dirt free.
Mahalaya Road:
With the big drain flowing alongside the road that leads to HS Road, the residents were highly dissatisfied with the garbage clogged drain filled with filth and dirt. People complained of non maintenance of the drain as repeated requests to clean the same went unheard. Moreover just at a few steps away there is a public toilet the condition of which is unspeakable as stinking smell this toilet for long had been a cause of unhealthy condition for people who pass through it or those who use that toilet that has no water facility.
From the above observation it could be assumed that every single area irrespective of DMB garbage disposal van picking up trashes from concerned areas or households, the overall scenario presents a gloomy and dissatisfactory condition with people still lacking in learning the good side of adopting cleanliness habits in keeping their surrounding and town area spotlessly clean. It is pertinent to mention here that from the overall survey it may be assumed that only when awareness among residents, shop, hotels, restaurants and public government servants including the students are instilled and the obligation to proper use of garbage bins and knowledge of segregation of wastes for separate disposal of trash, doing away with the habit of spitting is permanently realized, only the entire town area shall be termed as Swachh.