144 tonnes of waste cleared from Deekshabhoomi in three days during Dhammachakra Pravartan Din

Sanitation workers of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's solid waste management department worked round the clock to keep the city clean on the 70th Dhammachakra Pravartan Din. In three days, a total of 144 tonnes of waste was removed from the Deekshabhoomi premises.

The workers also played an important part in cleaning the Ambazari, Bezonbagh and Untkhana areas. Across three shifts, 872 sanitation workers, 234 waste collection workers, three suction machines, three choke machines, 190 waste bins and 108 vehicles were deployed. Four compactors were used to carry the waste to Bhandewadi. Despite the arrival of lakhs of followers, the administration managed to keep the city clean.

For Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, the corporation had taken charge of civic amenities, sanitation and traffic arrangements. Its staff had been on duty in three shifts from October 18. Senior officials of every department were appointed nodal officers. The arrangements were made on the directions of Mayor Nita Thakre and Commissioner Dr Vipin, so that the lakhs of followers coming to the city faced no inconvenience.

Mayor Nita Thakre, Deputy Mayor Lilatai Hathibed, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare, Leader of the ruling party Narendra (Balya) Borkar and Transport Committee Chairperson Mangala Khekare carried out regular inspections.

Additional Commissioners Ankit, Muruganandam M. and Milind Meshram worked to make the arrangements a success. Commissioner Dr Vipin personally monitored them. On October 20, Dhammachakra Pravartan Din, he reviewed the civic amenities and checked that followers faced no difficulty. He also spoke to followers and asked for their opinion on the amenities.

The main responsibility for collecting and disposing of the waste generated by the lakhs of followers in the city lay with the solid waste management department. The corporation made arrangements at different levels and implemented the system successfully with the help of Antony Waste Handling and BVG India Limited, the companies that handle waste collection in the city. The two companies deployed 108 vehicles across three shifts and posted 234 workers for waste collection. The work was led by Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Bhagat, Chief Sanitation Officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Laxmi Nagar zone Assistant Commissioner Dhananjay Jadhav and Sanitation Officer Hrishikesh Ingle. NDS personnel also helped with cleaning. A team of NDS, led by NDS chief Virsen Tambe, remained stationed at the Deekshabhoomi premises.

For the followers' stay, 21 domes were set up on the Deekshabhoomi premises. More than 1,200 toilets were installed, all connected to the sewer line. Sanitation workers were posted to remove waste from the premises and roads immediately. The corporation provided this service round the clock, seven days a week.

To assist the police with security arrangements, the corporation provided 44 permanent and 16 temporary CCTV cameras. A total of 120 taps for drinking water were installed along the roads, and drinking water was also provided in every dome. Additional lighting was also arranged.

Waste bins were placed on both sides of the roads in the Deekshabhoomi premises. Waste was put into these bins, so less waste collected on the roads. Sanitation workers stayed on in three shifts to clear waste from the roads. Two shifts were set aside to carry the collected waste to Bhandewadi, in which a total of 108 vehicles were used. Owing to the workers' efforts, waste did not pile up in the Deekshabhoomi premises.

The corporation's transport department ran special Aapli Bus services from Deekshabhoomi to Dragon Palace and to Shantivan in Chicholi. According to Yogesh Lunge, administrative officer of the transport department, a total of 58,084 passengers used Aapli Bus between October 18 and 20 to travel from Deekshabhoomi to Dragon Palace, Chicholi and other parts of the city.

The Aapli Bus service from Deekshabhoomi began on October 18, for which the corporation deployed 267 buses. On October 18, 12 buses ran between Deekshabhoomi and Dragon Palace and 1,204 passengers travelled. On October 19, 49 buses were deployed on the Deekshabhoomi-Dragon Palace route and 9,625 followers used them. In addition, 534 passengers travelled from Deekshabhoomi to Chicholi on six buses.

On October 20, the highest number, 41,175 followers, travelled by Aapli Bus from Deekshabhoomi to Dragon Palace. The corporation had arranged 145 buses for this. On the same day, passengers also travelled by Aapli Bus to Nara, Chicholi, Nari, Gandhiputla, Beltarodi, Yashodhara Nagar and Giddobanagar.