Prahladnagar plot: AMC’s neglected child

One side of the plot, which is a stinking dump, is cleaned only because it is close to the residence of ex-AUDA chief

One side of the plot is lined with trees, the other by weeds and wild grass

This rubbish dump is a blot on Prahladnagar’s reputation of being a plush neighbourhood. For residents, the heaps of garbage, hordes of cows and buffaloes and swarms of mosquitoes are more of a nightmare that sours their experience of owning a ‘dream house’.

Residents of Serene Flats in the area say they have complained to AMC authorities on numerous occasions in the past to get the area cleaned, but to no avail. Now, they are beginning to feel choked and desperate for fresh air. The residents also say the civic body has been partial for it cleans the part of the open plot which is close to the residence of former chairman of AUDA, Surendra Patel.

The other side has been turned into a dump for household waste, leftovers from eateries, plastic and paper, uncared for dry grass and cow dung. As a result, passers-by consider the plot a vast open loo and relieve themselves there.

“My wife and children cannot go to the balcony as people urinate there. The Rabari family staying there dirties the place by bathing in the open and spread cakes of dung all over. The cows and buffaloes,

attracted to the place because of the waste strewn about, create safety hazard for motorists,” said Serene Flats president Sameer Shah.

AMC looks after only one side of the plot. While one side is lined with freshly-planted trees, the other side is claimed by weeds and wild grass. Girish Trivedi, another resident, said, “People burn cow dung at night that leaves a foul smell in their entire locality. We want AMC to clean up the entire plot, put a notice board and keep a man for security.”

Residents of Tapas Bungalows, where Patel resides, use the clean side during social functions. Needless to say that the leftovers and waste end up on the other half of the plot.

Residents now seek an end to AMC’s apathy. They say their residence is hardly a ‘dream house’ with all the luxuries inside, but none in the surroundings.

Read original articles at:  http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/51/20081125200811250408432771bec8eef/Prahladnagar-plot-AMC%E2%80%99s-neglected-child.html

Corporation’s 24×7 helpline makes a clean sweep

Paldi resident calls up AMC’s 24-hour control room and sees his ‘filthy’ locality cleaned up within hours

A tractor scrapes the sides of a road to clean it of dirt

Heaps of garbage, weeds and dirt littering the sidewalks were a common sight in this locality till Tuesday. That’s the day residents of Faiz Muhammad Society read the report on AMC’s 24×7 cleanliness helpline in the Ahmedabad Mirror, and decided to give it a try. Doubtful it will work, they made the call. And were happily surprised to see the AMC promptly take up their complaint and clean up the area within hours.
The decision to set up a round-the-clock control room was taken at an emergency meeting called by Municipal Commissioner I P Gautam on Monday, to intensify and strengthen the Corporation’s efforts to keep the city clean.

Ahmedabad Mirror’s cleanliness campaign motivated Farid Khan Pathan, a resident of Faizan Apartments in Faiz Muhammad Society, to call up the control room for help in cleaning up his vicinity. He placed his call around 11 am. Divyank Oza, deputy health officer of the West Zone, ensured he would send sanitation workers to clean up the area in Paldi by 5 pm.

“I had little faith that anything good will come out of the call. But guess what? I was so glad to be wrong when the AMC guys pulled up in the locality,” said Farid.

Lalubhai Chauhan came with his team and got the filth removed immediately. A day after the complaint was lodged, the weeds and other dirt along side the boundaries were also neatly pulled out by AMC tractors.

“I have never witnessed the civic body function so effectively. I now ask other Amdavadis to come forward and keep aapnu Amdavad clean. I believe there are many residents who are ready to take up Christina’s challenge,” Farid added.

Another neighbour, who saw the clean-up, said: “I was amazed to see the whole process. We had got so used to seeing the filth. We never thought anything would be done about it. But the cleanliness campaign has brought about a change in everyone’s attitude. The civic body has cleaned up its act, now it is up to us to support them by keeping the surrounding clean.”

“I appreciate the efforts of the civic body in cleaning up the area. Right now the area looks marvellous, compared to how it looked a couple of days ago thanks to the Ahmedabad Mirror report and the positive response of the AMC,” said another neighbour.

The control room has received more than 170 calls in the past two days, and the phones are still ringing. Health Committee chairman Praful Raval said, “The initiative is meant to resolve civic problems fast. I have taken the pledge to clean up my city as part of the Swarnim Gujarat project. If each and every Amdavadi takes up this responsibility and keep the city as clean as they keep their houses, this dream will smoothly become a reality.”

For those who think we cannot keep our city clean, we say — yes, we can! Participate and keep our city clean. You can call up the landline numbers: 25353858/3717, 32982458 or 25391811 (Extension: 718/719/557) and your complaints will be taken up immediately.

Read original article at:  http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20081106200811060332158581d92a1a7/Corporation%E2%80%99s-24×7-helpline-makes-a-clean-sweep.html