SRINAGAR: The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has a shortfall of 614 regular sanitation workers against its sanctioned strength of 1,726, with the government saying manpower is being rationalised and redeployed to maintain sanitation coverage across the city.
The figures were disclosed by the Jammu and Kashmir Government in response to an unstarred question by Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali Sagar in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the official reply, SMC has 1,112 regular sanitation workers currently in position against the sanctioned strength of 1,726. The government said the reported shortfall is being examined in relation to existing manpower, ward-wise sanitation workload and operational requirements.
“Available manpower is being rationally deployed/redeployed, wherever required, to ensure effective sanitation coverage,” the government said.
It added that the augmentation of manpower, wherever considered necessary, would be taken up with the competent authority, subject to applicable norms and availability of resources.
The government said sanitation deficiencies in certain lanes and by-lanes of Srinagar are being addressed through regular sweeping and cleaning, door-to-door waste collection, and lifting and transportation of waste.
Special sanitation drives are also being conducted in areas requiring additional attention, while field-level monitoring is being undertaken and corrective measures taken as required.
The SMC has 35 administrative wards for planning, deployment, supervision and monitoring of municipal services, although the corporation comprises 74 electoral wards for electoral representation.
The official data shows that these 35 administrative wards together contain 5,108 lanes and by-lanes with a combined length of 381.75 kilometres.
The government said sanitation manpower and machinery are also being rationalised to improve area-wise coverage and service delivery.
On the requirement for additional workers, the government said it is assessed periodically in view of Srinagar’s expansion, population growth and the increasing sanitation workload.
“Manpower is rationalised as required, and additional workforce proposed/augmented necessary, subject to applicable norms and availability,” the reply said.
The government further stated that sanitation and allied services in Srinagar are being monitored continuously and necessary measures are being taken for their improvement.
