Patna: Heaps of uncollected waste in residential neighbourhoods have begun decomposing rapidly due to intermittent rainfall, emitting a foul odour amid the ongoing sanitation workers’ strike.Residents said garbage collection remains irregular in several localities, particularly in inner lanes where waste has accumulated for days, raising concerns over public health and sanitation.Even as Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) claimed it was collecting and disposing of around 300 tonnes of garbage daily and had deployed around 100 vehicles for door-to-door collection, waste continued to pile up in several residential areas on Monday.PMC officials acknowledged that the administration’s immediate focus remains on clearing garbage from major roads, markets and public spaces, while collection in inner lanes and residential bylanes continues to face disruptions.“We are gradually restoring normal garbage collection and cleaning drives and hope to resolve the issue within this week so that residents no longer face inconvenience. All pending dues on our part have been cleared, while the remaining issues will be addressed at the departmental level. We have made several attempts to hold discussions with union leaders and find a solution, but have not received any response from them so far,” said Yashpal Meena, PMC commissioner.According to PMC, special arrangements were also made for garbage collection at AN College during the counting of votes for the Bankipur assembly bypoll, where two additional vehicles were deployed for continuous waste removal. It said 23 vehicles were deployed in the New Capital circle, 15 in Azimabad, 20 in Patna City, 28 in Pataliputra and 13 in Bankipur, with additional vehicles sent to areas requiring urgent intervention.Meanwhile, the corporation intensified action against agencies responsible for sanitation work, imposing additional penalties of Rs 21.95 crore for failing to provide adequate manpower and vehicles as mandated under contractual agreements. Show-cause notices were issued to the agencies for the second consecutive day.As per a PMC press statement, a special night-time cleaning drive is being conducted under security cover, with priority being given to major roads, commercial hubs, hospitals and other sensitive locations. The civic body said the measures were aimed at minimising the impact of the strike and restoring normal sanitation services.However, residents said conditions remain challenging in several neighbourhoods, with rainwater mixing with accumulated waste and worsening sanitation concerns despite the civic body’s efforts to restore normalcy.
