Five days after ‘Op Clean Sweep’, garbage returns to Walled City lanes

Jaipur: The Walled City, one of the busiest tourist areas in the city, is once again struggling with overflowing garbage just days after the Jaipur Municipal Corporation's "Operation Clean Sweep" campaign.

Residents say the narrow lanes and open dumping spots cleaned during the drive have already returned to their earlier condition, raising questions over the sustainability of the exercise.

JMC launched the one-day campaign with claims that long-neglected "Gandi Galiya", narrow stretches and open garbage points inside the old city would be cleared permanently. However, areas such as Kuteto Ka Rasta, Mishra Raja Ji Ka Rasta and Mehro Ka Rasta are again witnessing piles of waste and foul smell within five days of the drive.

Open garbage dumping was seen near Namak Ki Mandi and Baba Harishchandra Marg, close to Raisar Plaza. Residents say irregular garbage collection and delayed arrival of waste vehicles have worsened the situation.

Yogesh Labaniya, a resident of Namak Ki Mandi, said people were never fully confident that the cleanliness would last. "We thought at least things would improve for a few days, but if garbage hoppers do not arrive on time, the lanes will obviously go back to the same condition," he said.

Former councillor Arvind Methi termed the campaign a "PR event" and said cleanliness in the Walled City could only improve through regular sanitation work and timely deployment of hoppers.

In Ramganj and Mehro Ka Rasta, residents complained that their areas were not included in the campaign even though sanitation workers from those localities were diverted for the drive. Former councillor Mohammad Zakariya said the city already faced a shortage of sanitation staff and shifting workers from one area to another only made conditions worse elsewhere.

What has further raised concern among locals is that over Rs 9 crore has reportedly been spent in phases under the Jaipur Smart City projects to clean these "Gandi Galiya". The recent "Operation Clean Sweep" drive was also conducted under CSR funding at a cost of nearly Rs 10 lakh. Despite this, residents say the ground reality remains unchanged, with garbage, foul smell, and open dumping continuing to dominate the historic lanes.