Click to play videoMumbai: Mumbai – the ‘maximum city’ has the distinction of being one of the dirtiest cities in the world.
8000 tonnes of garbage are produced everyday in the city, which is just one of the reasons Forbes magazine rated it the 7th dirtiest city in the world.
Forbes’s list relies on a ranking which looks at air and water pollution, hospital services, medical supplies and the presence of infectious disease.
Many Mumbaikars have given mixed reactions to the rankings.
“It is dirty, there is garbage everywhere,” complained one, while another added compared to other cities, Mumbai is certainly the dirtier.
On the other hand, one Mumbai loyalist reasoned: "It’s not that dirty. If you compare with other cities, you have to take into account population and other factors."
Another Mumbaikar was dismissive: "People who have not visited the city have such notions."
But whether the ranking is accurate or not, the denizens have definite ideas on who is to be blamed for this.
Some say the population influx is responsible while others add that the city is dirty because of the ignorance of Mumbaikars.
To create awareness, the civic administration had launched a clean up campaign but Mumbaikars have another story to tell.
"I’ve never seen or heard about them," one says, while another adds, “Whenever I see a dirty place, I have never seen anyone come and take charge."
To beat the filth, people have come up with their own solutions.
Some say self-discipline is a solution – “Don't expect everything to be done by BMC."
As a Mumbaikar puts it: "Surveys are all okay, but people should take responsibility to keep their homes and surroundings clean."
Mumbai’s mayor has a suggestion on how to go about doing that.
"Separate dry and wet garbage on your own. Give the dry garbage to rag-pickers and make compost manure of the wet garbage," says Mayor Shubha Raul.
Hopefully, these measures will work.
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