BENGALURU: In addition to their normal tasks, the city’s pourakarmikas will have an additional task after Diwali festivities. They will have to segregate unexploded firecrackers left on the streets after the celebrations. The BBMP has directed the pourakarmikas not to torch the garbage heap after sweeping, as it might have unexploded firecrackers and may cause injuries. A BBMP official said, “It was observed that many firecrackers, which fail to explode, are left on the streets. The Pourakarmikas have the tendency to sweep and gather them and set fire to it.”
For the past several years, there were repeated complaints about Pourakarmikas sustaining firecracker injuries while cleaning the streets. “They have also been strictly instructed to segregate the unexploded firecrackers from the waste before dumping it into the garbage trucks, as even an accidental spark could cause major fatalities,” the official added. The BBMP has urged the owners of the firecracker stalls not to leave behind any materials, including empty boxes, while vacating the stall. Usually, young children would scamper the area to look for leftover crackers and they tend to light it and this could also lead to injuries.
When asked about the amount of waste collected on Thursday, the official said that they will get the actual statistics only at the end of the three-day festival.
Street vendors warned.
The BBMP has also warned the street vendors and shop owners against dumping pooja items into the drain. They were instructed to dispose them garbage bins, which would be later collected by the garbage truck. “These vendors usually find an easy way out and dump the waste into the drains, which later result in clogging during rains. The havoc caused by recent rains was mainly due to the clogged drains and hence we are taking it seriously. ,” said another official.
Case against BBMP contractor:
A group of women pourakarmikas have accused a BBMP contractor of assaulting, sexually harassing and hurling filthy abuses at them. A case was registered in K.R. Puram police station in this regard against the contractor, Nagesh. A week ago, the contractor and civic workers reportedly had an argument over wages.
On Thursday , some women pourakarmikas had gathered at Diesel Loco Shed Road in K.R. Puram to register their attendance. Contractor Nagesh went there and allegedly abused the women for making allegations against him and threatened them with an iron rod. He allegedly told them that he would rape and murder them and exhorted his associates to rape them.
