Surat stinks, but officials say everything is fine

Surat, Aug 23 (UNI) While officials on Monday claimed that the first phase of the cleaning operation in Surat city was over, fact is that many parts of the city, including the centrally located Chowk area and areas of old city, are still stinking.

Surprisingly, the district information office compound at Chowk is still covered in large quantities of mud and it is very difficult for a person to stand there for long.

The cleaning process of the State Bank of India branch at Chowk is not yet complete and the bank premises is still under mud.

Officials at SBI Chowk branch told UNI that operations at the branch have been cancelled and are now being made through its Nanpura branch.

Large chunks of garbage can be seen on the banks of the Tapi river near Vivekananda bridge from which garbage was dumped into the river. As water recedes, most of the garbage still remains there, exposing citizens to problems.

People fear that organo-phosphorous, which is sprayed in garbage dumps can cause leptrospirosis among children. This has prompted many families to keep their children inside their house. A journalist working at Adajan area told UNI that the cleaning up operations in that area still remain unfinished.

Many in Surat believe that it is a hard task bringing back the city to its charming old days.

UNI MS KU PB RAI1841