Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan 
The bins should have been on this road KC Marg near LilavatiOn Aug 15, actors Preity Zinta and Shah Rukh Khan initiated a garbage-clearing drive in Reclamation, where they were seen wielding brooms and picking up vegetable peels.
Following the clean-up drive, Zinta decided to install 15 bins at different spots in Bandra and Khar. True to her word she promptly got five dustbins (at a cost of Rs 3,100 per bin) installed near Rangsharda auditorium.
However, when the ward officials from the conservancy department went to inspect the area on Aug 16 they couldnt find any of the bins.
Though officials are unsure of what might have happened to the five green and blue coloured 120 litre bins, they suspect that the bins might have been stolen by the slumdwellers nearby.
Ward officer Anil Khoje says he sent his men to check if the bins were installed there, but they couldnt find any.
at the clean up drive
Although the actress is a little disillusioned by the theft of the bins, she will go ahead with her plan to place them in other areas of the suburb, since she has already bought them and they are lying in her house.
Zintas much publicised clean-up drive has drawn citywide attention to the mounting garbage problem in the area. However, residents in collusion with the BMC have been grappling with the problem for months now.
metro Bandra has been reporting about the pilot conservancy project Parivartan Prakalp, which was initiated in March (metro March 11-17) to segregate waste and ensure zero visible garbage on the streets.
This meant that community bins were being systematically removed in several areas like Union Park, Carter Road, Pali Hill and Mount Mary where the project had been initiated. Later when the project spread to others areas, bins from parts of Reclamation, Carter Road were also removed (metro April 8-14).
So, while the bins donated by Zinta are in itself a good gesture, it defeats the purpose of the project. Residents and ward officials have mixed reactions about the star's generous gesture.
Parivartan Prakalp moves to other wards
DS Thakur, deputy chief engineer, solid waste management, in-charge of Parivartan Prakalp, says they are satisfied with the progress of the project and it has been implemented in 24 wards across the city.
We have received very good response from the residents in H-west ward, which has made us positive about the implementation of the project elsewhere, says Thakur.
However, he admits that they are facing difficulties in the slum areas. But we are doing our best to work with resident bodies and ALMs to make the project a success, he says.
The BMC has not been able to tabulate the progress of the project yet, because of the heavy rains. We will review its progress in Aug and Sept and then see what improvements can be made. But we are very serious about implementing this project in a big way, stresses Thakur.
Jayanti Shukla
Resident of Reclamation
If Preity had approached ALMs and resident bodies before going ahead with her clean-up plan, we could have achieved more, like placing two separate bins for wet and dry garbage. Placing bins does defeat the purpose of Parivartan Prakalp, but at the same time, they are a good solution for the garbage that has inundated our suburb after the floods.
As local residents and ALM members, we welcome and appreciate any participation by celebrities in the improvement of their locality, provided it is a long-term goal and not a knee-jerk reaction to the floods.
Vidya Vaidya
Resident of Reclamation
Since garbage isnt segregated in all parts of Reclamation, placing bins there is a great idea. The two municipal bins in that area are not enough to contain the garbage that otherwise spills out onto the road and creates a mess there.
I appreciate the fact that Preity had the guts to take some action against the garbage menace. A celebrity who takes the initiative to do something for her community is always a good role model for others, and we would really appreciate it if she volunteered to work together with resident bodies so that more could be achieved.
Anil Khoje
H-west ward officer
Preity should have contacted the ward office before embarking on a cleanliness drive, because we could have worked together and achieved better results.
However since she has proposed to install smaller bins, we welcome her co-operation, because that will help in cleanliness of the area. If she had installed community bins it would have definitely defeated the purpose of Parivartan Prakalp.
sowmya.rajaram@mid-day.com
