HOLI CELEBRATED UNDER THE SHADOW OF FILTH

HOLI CELEBRATED UNDER THE SHADOW OF FILTH

7-MARCH-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------While the entire region was immersed in joy and enthusiasm on the festival of colors and enthusiasm, Holi was a disappointing experience for the residents of Shahpur Nagar Panchayat. Due to the poor functioning of the Nagar Panchayat, this year's Holi festival was celebrated amidst heaps of filth. Ironically, during the crucial festival, the sanitation system was completely disrupted for three consecutive days, leaving the city's main roads and streets littered with garbage.

Administrative apathy was such that no prior planning was done to manage the excess waste generated during the festival. The absence of sanitation workers and the non-operation of garbage collection vehicles led to piles of garbage in various wards of the city. When people came out of their homes on the day of the festival to apply colors and exchange greetings, they were faced with filth strewn on the streets and overflowing drains.

Local residents say that the Nagar Panchayat administration paid no attention to the cleanliness arrangements for a major festival like Holi. The stench emanating from the filth, particularly the high piles of garbage at the intersections of NH-84, the main market, and residential areas, expose the city administration's claims of cleanliness. Despite spending lakhs of rupees every month, the situation on the ground is worrying.