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80 civic complaints daily, NMC says attending to 72

Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation is claiming to be attending to 72 complaints per day against an average of 80 complaints filed related to civic issues a day.

As per NMC data, from March 1, 2022, to September 27, the civic body received 16,864 complaints and resolved 15,112. Citizens, however, disagree with the civic body’s claim.



The highest number of 6,463 complaints pertained to the public health engineering department — mainly about choked sewer chambers.

The solid waste management department, which is supposed to keep the city garbage free, received around 3,992 complaints which is on an average 18 per day.

Garden department received 996 complaints while 872 complaints were received at veterinary department regarding stray dogs, pig menace and cattle roaming on roads.

Citizens TOI spoke to said that NMC is closing complaints abruptly without resolving civic issues. Gayatri Shukla Bhattacharya, a resident of Dixit Nagar, said that she had lodged at least a dozen online complaints related to pig menace in their gated residential locality.

Even the residents of the locality expressed anguish over NMC abruptly closing complaints claiming them to be resolved. “Have they ever visited the locality to gauge the problems faced by citizens due to pig menace?” said Shukla.

Citizens said many have experienced similar closure of their complaints raised on NMC’s online grievance redressal system. The complaints remained unresolved despite follow-ups, they said.

Ramesh Bankar, another miffed citizen, pointed out issue of overflowing sewage in Surendragarh. The complaints were filed online but closed without any solution. According to him, the online system is a good initiative as it helps NMC to address the issues. “But it will be successful only if the follow-up is done diligently with a proactive participation of officials,” said Bankar.

Shrikant Rangari, who had registered a complaint about garbage dumping, said that he initially got a reply but then the complaint was closed. The issue was addressed only after he raised it again. “Why NMC cannot provide snapshots before addressing the issue and after the work is done?” Rangari said.

A citizens’ groups in the city stressed on establishing a stronger follow-up mechanism to avoid abrupt closure of complaints.

Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B recently convened a meeting over pending complaints. He directed assistant municipal commissioners of all 10 zones to ensure that complaints filed by citizens are addressed without any delay.

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