The case of missing dustbins: 473 installed, only 12 remain

[sidmis]

The case of missing dustbins: 473 installed, only 12 remain
as reported by Viju B, 26 Sep 2008, TNN

MUMBAI: One thing that seems to be disappearing faster than the mounds of garbage that pile up everyday in the city is the ubiquitous dustbin.

The civic authorities had installed 473 dustbins in two wards (F south and north) in the last three years but today only 12 remain.

The dustbins were installed near pavements, police chowkies, schools, railway stations, ward offices, hospitals and gardens situated at Dadar, Parel, Matunga, Sion, Sewri and Wadala. "The dustbins vanished weeks after they were installed. When someone informed the authorities about the missing dustbins, they were re-installed again, but went missing again," said Bhaskar Prabhu of Mahiti Adhikaar Manch, which had filed a query under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on the status of the missing dustbins in F south ward.

The ward office replied that 300 dustbins were installed in the last three years, of which only 12 remained. The civic officials even replaced 112 dustbins after they went missing in the same period, but even these went missing.

In F north ward, comprising areas like Wadala and Sion, all 174 dustbins which were installed in the last one year have been uprooted. "The ward office replied that only the poles that used to hold the dustbins are remaining there," said Mahiti Adhikaar activist Anand Castelino.

The situation is similar in all other wards. "Crores of rupees of the public exchequer went down the drain. The BMC has not even bothered to file a FIR with the local police stations on the missing dustbins," Prabhu said.

Residents staying in this area alleged that the thefts were done very systematically as entire lots of dustbins have been missing in a span of one year. "Even dustbins placed in front of police chowkies near Dadar and Wadala have been stolen," Castelino said.

Meanwhile, the civic authorities defend their position stating that the residents in these area seldom co-operate with them. "People lack civic sense. We even came across cases in which residents had burned the bins. It is the responsibility of the citizens to look after public property. Our staff cannot be on duty 24/7 looking after these dustbins," said U R Shiroorkar assistant engineer, environment department.

F south Ward officer V Patwardhan said there is not enough staff in the corporation to monitor these thefts.

The case of missing dustbins: 473 installed, only 12 remain-Mumbai-Cities-The Times of India