As Bengaluru winds down from the Deepavali festivities, the aftermath is evident in the streets, with an additional 260-300 tonnes of mixed waste generated from firecrackers and festival activities, according to a senior BBMP official. This surge in waste has led to the deployment of around 40 compactors solely for its collection. Poornima S., a 45-year-old pourakarmika, shared her ordeal of working tirelessly during the festival, highlighting the challenges faced by civic workers who are often denied leave during these busy times. “Every festival brings anxiety as we are forced to work more,” she lamented. Similarly, Lakshmamma, another civic worker, expressed frustration over not being able to utilize the 15 annual leave days, as workers are compelled to stay on duty during festivals. Data from BBMP revealed that 93 festival blackspots emerged, accumulating an additional 300 tonnes of waste on top of the usual 3,200 tonnes collected daily. However, efforts have reduced these blackspots to 43 as of November 4, with hopes of clearing them by November 5. Nirmala M., president of the BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha, criticized the poor leave management, urging the BBMP to implement a rota system allowing workers to take turns in availing leave during festivals. She pointed out, “In other sectors, workers can take leave. Why should it be different for civic workers?”
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/93-festival-black-spots-created-in-three-days-in-bengaluru/article68828373.ece
Category : Bengaluru
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