BMC to reintroduce litter bins to gain ‘swachh points’

Bhopal: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is reintroducing litter bins in public spaces to gain ‘swachh points' ahead of this year's survey. Previous attempts to use these bins — year-after-year — have failed, leading to significant waste of public money.
However, to ensure success this time, BMC plans to place the triple litter bins at over 100 locations in Bhopal, according to BMC commissioner, Harendra Narayan. The reinstatement of litter bins comes amidst identified discrepancies in Swachh facilities, leading to opposition concerns regarding the effectiveness and maintenance of the bins managed by BMC.
BMC opposition leader, Sabista Zaki, has raised several issues about the state of the bins, claiming they are often unable to withstand even regular use or are demolished. "As we all know, plastic toilets plonked by the BMC too have not sustained. Public money to the tune of crores of rupees have gone to waste," Zaki pointed out. She also questioned what happened to the previous bins, urging BMC to provide accountability for their disappearance. In addition, the BMC is facing a severe financial crunch, which impacts its ability to pay salaries, repair roads, and issue tenders for a new sewage network.
Yet, the civic body remains committed to reintroducing these bins, hoping for a better outcome this time. The initiative aims to maintain cleanliness in public spaces and encourage proper waste disposal by residents. Agencies will be enlisted to repair, install, and maintain the triple litter bins, which have a 100-liter capacity, at various locations. The selection of these agencies will be based on their ability to meet the required standards and perform the necessary tasks promptly and effectively, according to officials.
BMC hopes to address waste management issues more effectively and ensure the smooth functioning of Swach facilities in Bhopal. The administration is optimistic that these efforts will help achieve their cleanliness goals and foster a cleaner environment for the city's residents.