The Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) stated on Monday that its ongoing cleanliness drive in the historic Walled City is earning praise from both residents and international visitors. However, a ground-level inspection reveals a starkly different picture, where the shine of main tourist areas fades into neglected garbage piles and foul smells in local neighbourhoods.
Official Claims vs. Ground Reality in Walled City
While areas with heavy tourist traffic appear well-maintained, many residential and commercial localities continue to face severe sanitation issues. This disparity raises serious questions about the equity and reach of the civic body's cleanliness initiative.
Neglect in Local Bazaars: Ramganj and Kishanpole
In Ramganj Bazaar, the situation at Khumro Ka Rasta is particularly dire. This area, which primarily serves local shoppers, presents a jarring scene. The junction connecting the lane to the main road is dominated by heaps of uncollected waste, emitting a powerful stench. Stray cattle are often seen rummaging through the trash for food. A similar condition persists at the nearby Chhapar Bandhon Ka Rasta.
What makes this neglect more concerning is the accessibility of these spots. These garbage piles are not hidden in narrow, hard-to-reach alleys but are situated along roads connected to major streets, where municipal garbage collection vehicles can easily operate. Despite this, regular cleaning remains absent.
Residents Voice Frustration Over Irregular Waste Collection
The problem is echoed in Kishanpole Bazaar at Tikkadmal Ka Rasta, where garbage is visibly dumped on the main road itself. Local shopkeepers and residents unanimously point to irregular and unreliable waste collection as the core issue.
Imran Ali, a fish vendor at Khumro Ka Rasta, explained the daily struggle. "The garbage hopper only travels on the main road. Its helper never enters the inner lanes to collect waste from our shops. If we keep the waste inside, it will pile up and create more problems, so we are forced to dump it at a common spot. The vehicle comes occasionally but skips our area most days," he said.
Ramesh, a small trader in Kishanpole Bazaar, shared a similar account. "Every night, shopkeepers have no choice but to leave their garbage bags on the roadside. There is no fixed schedule for pickup. The garbage is lifted only when the vehicle decides to come, at its convenience," he stated.
These firsthand accounts contradict the official narrative of appreciation and success. They highlight a systemic failure in ensuring consistent sanitation services for all residents of the Walled City, not just those in the tourist gaze.
Is Cleanliness Being Prioritized Only for Tourists?
The visible contrast between the maintained tourist zones and the neglected local markets fuels a critical question: Is the Jaipur Municipal Corporation's drive focused more on cosmetic cleanliness for visitors than on providing fundamental sanitary services to the people who live and work in the city every day?
The ongoing situation in Ramganj Bazaar and Kishanpole Bazaar suggests that for many residents, the reality of living amid garbage and foul odours remains unchanged, casting a shadow over the corporation's claims.
