Guwahati: As the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) expands mechanised road sweeping across busy roads, flyovers and commercial stretches, questions remain over how effectively the initiative can tackle roadside dust and contribute to a cleaner city.However, residents of peripheral areas such as Narengi, Hatigaon and Basistha allege that road-cleaning operations remain infrequent in their neighbourhoods, leaving roadside dust largely unchecked.The sweeping machines have become a familiar sight on city roads during the night, with the civic body aiming to improve cleanliness by removing dust from arterial routes. However, the effectiveness of the initiative depends on the stretches covered, the frequency of operations and the machines’ ability to collect dust that can become airborne because of vehicular movement.“At present, there are eight road-sweeping machines, which are deployed regularly during the night. Within eight hours, each vehicle covers approximately 32 km to 50 km of road length and is capable of collecting five to six cubic metres of dust,” a GMC official said.The official added that the machines require regular maintenance to ensure they effectively collect dust and prevent particulate matter from escaping back into the air. Daily maintenance involves cleaning the hopper screens and filters and clearing the dust-suppression spray nozzles to maintain proper suction. Weekly maintenance includes checking the suction hoses and rubber seals for leaks or wear, while monthly maintenance involves inspecting the blower fan and suction nozzle for debris, damage or imbalance. These measures are intended to ensure efficient dust collection, prevent air pollution and avoid costly repairs.“Without regular maintenance, the machines may collect less dust, reducing their effectiveness in controlling road dust and air pollution. The maintenance work is carried out mainly at the facilities located in Lokhra and Ulubari,” the official said.Questions have also been raised by residents of areas such as Narengi, Hatigaon and Basistha, who feel that their localities are being neglected and that road-sweeping and cleaning activities are not carried out frequently enough.“We rarely see these road-sweeping machines in areas on the outskirts of the city. Most of the focus is on the main roads, while roads near the outskirts continue to accumulate dust. The civic body needs to ensure that the cleaning drive reaches roads on the outskirts as well, especially those near residential areas, so that people living there are not left out,” said Adweetya Das, a Basistha resident.
