PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Uttarkashi
One year has passed since Uttarkashi municipal council was formed. The people, by and large, are, however, unimpressed with its work despite it touting the tenure as historic on social media platforms. The common people say that all these claims ring hollow. They particularly cite issues like sanitation, garbage disposal and basic amenities. This aside, they say that the religious significance of the Shiv Nagri is declining fast thanks to some of the civic body’s decisions.
Notably, the social activist Gopinath Rawat’s indefinite strike against poor garbage disposal in the town entered its 54th day on Tuesday. “It is unfortunate that the administration is still sleeping on the issue of stinking garbage plaguing the town,” Rawat said.
Many of the common people this correspondent talked to say they are totally unconvinced with the civic body’s tall claims. “They are saying that though most of the garbage littering the town has been removed some people are making an issue of the little garbage still left. But the ground reality is different. Instead of completing the unfinished works, they are floating new tenders,” Rawat said.
The people stated that the district magistrate had visited the site and issued instructions to complete the work quickly. “But neither a deadline was set nor was any compliance ensured. Things seem to have come to such a pass that even the DM’s orders are falling flat. So we are still grappling with garbage pile mounting,” said a local Laxman Singh Rana who was present at the protest site.
There is also widespread resentment among religious organisations too regarding the present municipality’s one-year performance. The district president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Ajay Prakash Badola said that the condition of many public toilets across the town is very poor. Citing the example of a toilet built near the Gyansu taxi stand, he said that there is neither water nor is it cleaned. “Sullied water from the toilet is flowing onto Kedar Marg, inconveniencing devotees, but the municipality is looking the other way,” he said.
Another senior VHP functionary from the district Kirti Singh Maher dubbed the performance as disappointing. “This is the first board in Shiv Nagri to reopen meat and fish shops that were closed for years. These moves are constantly hurting people’s religious sentiments,” he said. He also cited the garbage pile issue as reflecting the civic body’s callousness to the ancient town bearing immense religious significance.
