Even after upgradation of the Municipal Committee to Municipal Corporation over two years back, the strength of the sanitation system, both in terms of men and machines, has hardly improved. In fact, the number of safai sewaks (about 700) has not changed even in a decade, as vacancies caused by retirement or death have not been filled up, putting further strain on the fragile sanitation system.

Out of a total of 13 tractors and trucks owned by the sanitation department of the Corporation, four are out of order for almost two months. Of the two carriers (tippers) use to lift garbage containers, one is reported to be out of order and according to sources, can be repaired for a paltry Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000.

Sources in the Municipal Corporation say there are about 20 garbage containers in different parts of the city and since one of the carriers is non-functional, most of these containers have not been cleared on a daily basis. In some cases, it is said, the containers are cleared after two to three days.

A crisis-like situation exists in the area of Gurdwara Ahluwalia, where any given day one can come across loads of garbage emitting stench. The people also seem to have got used to the insanitary conditions and there has hardly been any protest on this count. In a stray case, residents of that area met the Local Bodies Minister Balramji Dass Tandon, who assured action by way of shifting of the garbage dump. But the assurance still has to take effect.

Corporation Executive Officer J.S. Punia, who is in charge of the sanitation of the town, said that at one time, it was decided to go in for privatisation of the sanitation system, but in face of an agitation threat from the sanitation staff, the tenders inviting bids for the purpose were rejected and the plan shelved.

He said the Corporation had started a scheme of giving matching grants to mohalla committees in peripheral colonies to employ sanitation staff. A sum of Rs 1,200 was being given by way of remuneration for safai sewaks, whose work these panels supervised. Such scheme had been implemented in 16 to 17 colonies and may be extended to more colonies, he said.