Special sanitation drive to clear garbage and battle COVID in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) deployed all its men and machinery for a special sanitation drive, after K. T. Rama Rao, Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA & UD), Government of Telangana, gave the civic body four days to clear accumulated garbage in the city. GHMC engaged as many as 18,000 sanitation workers to collect, lift, and transfer garbage from different parts in the city.

From deputy commissioner to sanitation worker, each sanitation staff in all the 30 circles were involved in clearing garbage that had accumulated over the last several weeks at various spots in the city. The garbage had not been attended for a long time on the main thoroughfares and in colonies. Additional vehicles, dumpers, and tippers have been engaged by the GHMC for the same purpose.

The GHMC also formed 453 entomology teams and sprayed sodium hypo-chlorite in 636 locations across the city as part of COVID-19 preventative measures. On Sunday, April 18, these teams sprayed 900 litres of sodium hypo-chlorite using 840 sprayers, 7 jet machines, 63 fogging machines and 302 small fogging machines. Authorities carried out spraying activities in over 16,000 residential areas and also took up fogging in the evening. Furthermore, in places which reported COVID-19 cases, spraying of sodium hypo-chlorite was done twice during the day.

On the directions of the Minister of MA & UD, GHMC also formed zone and circle-wise emergency teams and spraying was carried out at urban health centres, Basthi Dawakanas, religious places, and other busy areas.