Expect a cleaner capital, thanks to I-Day and Id.

Acting on a Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) directive, partner agency A2Z Waste Management Private Limited began a special cleanliness drive of Ranchi from Thursday in view of Independence Day and Id. The drive will continue till August 21, as Id will be celebrated either on August 20 or 21, depending on when the moon is sighted.

While RMC has constituted four teams of engineers to go around and inspect big drains to see which ones need slabs on a priority basis, A2Z has hired 100 extra labourers to clean roads and dividers.

“All these initiatives are to ensure cleanliness for Independence Day and Id,” confirmed RMC public relations officer Naresh Sinha.

A2Z engages 1,200 labourers, most of whom collect garbage across the city aided by 400 wheelbarrows, 55 light-duty (mini-truck) vehicles and 22 compactors.

As of now, rain has made Ranchi mucky and messy. Garbage bins give off a foul smell, though compactors pick up garbage regularly. Grass has grown wild near dividers.

“Labourers will sprinkle DDT near bins and wherever needed and weed out grass,” said Ashish Sourabh, A2Z public relations officer.

Though A2Z claimed that the city’s cleanliness had dramatically improved, garbage is seen along roads in Tharpakhna, Lalpur, Purulia Road, Kokar, Kantatoli and others.

Sourabh, however, urged people to show civic sense. “We clean garbage regularly. But people litter roads,” he said, adding that they would distribute raincoats to labourers to help them work efficiently in monsoon.