Jaipur: A ward-wise cleanliness campaign launched by Jaipur Municipal Corporation has sparked criticism from Congress councillors in the Kishanpole zone, who argue that concentrating sanitation workers in a single ward is disrupting regular cleaning services in other areas.The campaign was inaugurated by Mayor Sunil Kothari in Ward 112 Thursday, with sanitation workers from across the Kishanpole zone deployed for the drive. The next phase is scheduled to be held in Ward 104 on Saturday, and workers from different wards in the zone have already been directed to participate.Mohammad Zakariya, councillor from Ward 114, welcomed the initiative but expressed concern over its impact on routine sanitation work elsewhere.“The campaign is a positive step, but it should not result in neglect of cleanliness in other wards,” he said. He suggested that the civic body either increase the number of sanitation workers or ensure sufficient staff strength is maintained in every ward so that regular cleaning operations are not affected during the drive.Councillor Sunita Methi also raised concerns over the shortage of sanitation staff in her ward. “Our ward already has sanitation problems. Taking workers away from here is completely wrong,” she said.The cleanliness drive is also facing challenges amid a strike by hopper workers in Kishanpole zone, which has affected waste collection.Niharika Sharma, deputy commissioner of Kishanpole zone, said the state govt was in the process of recruiting sanitation workers. “We will ensure that sanitation in other wards is not affected because of this campaign,” she said.The civic body now faces the task of carrying out its special cleanliness drive while maintaining routine sanitation across the zone.
