Patna: The outsourcing agency hired by Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to ensure cleanliness for the concluding ceremony of Prakash Utsav started its work on Friday.

PMC mayor Sita Sahu and divisional commissioner Anand Kishor formally inaugurated the services of the outsourcing agency in Patna City on Friday. PMC commissioner Abhishek Singh and other officials were also present on the occasion.

"This time, the outsourcing agency is supposed to look after sanitation-related work from Didarganj to Guru Ka Bagh area. It also has to ensure sanitation around Kangan Ghat, tent city approach roads apart from three wards (ward number 62, 66 and 67). The outsourcing agency is equipped with the latest gadgets apart from walky talkies for setting up communication," PMC commissioner Singh said.

Singh said that the agency had been assigned the responsibility of conducting cleanliness drives in the designated places in three shifts. "The agency has to work in three shifts. That means it has to work 24x7. Not only the agency, but PMC would also ensure cleanliness drives in three shifts in the remaining areas with its own resources. In case the agency does not perform properly, there is a provision of penalty as well. As per the contract, we can impose penalty of Rs 100 to Rs 1,000 per complaint received or shortcomings noticed."

Worth mentioning here that PMC set an example by keeping the city spick and span during the inaugural function of Prakash Utsav last year. Last year, too, the corporation had engaged a private agency for 45 days to ensure cleanliness during Prakash Utsav.

Acting tough against the agency, the corporation had even slapped penalty worth around Rs 7 lakh wherever it found shortcomings.

According to Singh, few citizens have also come forward to extend their hand in sanitation work during Prakash Utsav this time. "Some individuals have created a WhatsApp group and are requesting people to send reports of dirty areas in the city or in case anyone is spreading filth anywhere. It feels great to see the community participation," Singh said.