he tall claims of Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s sanitation and Swachhta drive stand exposed at Dighori Naka, Umred Road, where garbage has been rotting alongside the State Highway for days. During a ground visit by ‘The Hitavada’ on Thursday, the stretch in Zone No 5, Nehru Nagar, beside the nullah fencing the entire road shoulder was found buried under mixed waste. Plastic bags, vegetable peels, discarded clothes, thermocol, food leftovers and construction debris have been dumped openly, spilling onto the main carriageway of the busy entry road to the city. The board put up by NMC reads ‘Welcome to Orange City of India, Nagpur City’ stands right above the heap, exposing civic apathy.

 

The spot is just near shops. Stray cattles are seen feeding on polythene and rotten vegetables while a stray dog rummaged through the waste. The dump has narrowed the road and is forcing two-wheelers to manoeuvre through filth. “The garbage is dumped here daily and NMC never cleans it properly. Our shops are behind the fence but customers avoid this side due to the stench and cows blocking the road. We have complained to Zone No 5 several times but sanitation workers only clean a small patch and leave,” said Vedant Mate, owner of Shri Gajanan Power Tools, Dighori Naka. Echoing similar concern, Amit Chandankhede, a grocery shop owner near the spot, said, “The garbage heap has become a permanent feature.

 

The foul smell enters our shops, customers don’t want to stop, and cattle and dogs scatter the waste all over. NMC’s sanitation team is not doing its work properly, and we are facing the problem daily.” Residents have demanded that NMC ensures proper maintenance of the stretch, daily lifting of waste, deployment of regular sanitation staff and strict action against open dumping on the highway. ‘The Hitavada’ contacted Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Chief Sanitation Officer, NMC, who at first felt that the stretch might not be in NMC jurisdiction, but later said he would confirm from zone officials and take stock of the matter.