The civic body has announced an ambitious plan to give away prizes to clean wards in the city. FPJ treks down to the dirtiest areas in the city to listen to citizens' woes on reasons for the filth. Zeenat Nagree reports. The residents of Nabiullah lane at Bhendi Bazaar, have been living in literally a garbage dump. Ever since they remember, garbage from the surrounding areas of Bhendi Bazaar have been heaped at their doorstep. Huge bins overflowing with garbage dominate the view from their windows, but even if the look away, one thing permanently makes it presence felt - the smell. Repeated requests to various authorities - the Chief Minister, the Joint Municipal Commissioner for the Health Department, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner, the civic corporator - to change the area of the garbage dumping station, have all fallen on deaf ears. Zeboon Sanchawala who has been living on the first floor of Bagban Mahal at Nabiullah lane for 35 years finds it unbearable to even sit in her own house because of the appalling smell of the rotting garbage. "The garbage dumping area is a nuisance to everyone. We have made several complaints to various authorities but to no avail," says Zeboon. The garbage dumping station has attracted a host of other problems. "Flies and mosquitoes are constantly buzzing over the garbage. Often residents contract malaria but we can't do anything about it," says Taher Chitalwala, resident of Rani Manzil at Nabiullah lane. The area also has a serious rat and cockroach infestation problem. "Cockroaches and rats that live on the garbage have made their way to our homes. No amount of pest control helps because they always return, attracted by the garbage," says Atekabai Chataiwala, another resident of Bagban Mahal, adding, "Many stray dogs come here in search of food and make this their permanent habitat. At night, when garbage is being disposed, they constantly bark and disturb our sleep." Bordering the area where the garbage is dumped on a daily basis, is located Saifee Ambulance Society, a polyclinic which conducts free weekly triple polio vaccination and tuberculosis testing camps. Shabir Chataiwala, member of the society says, "New born children and other patients get vaccinated and tested amidst these conditions. It is ironical that the garbage dumping area has increased the number of people coming to us because of the high incidence of malaria, dengue and cholera among the residents." "Many politicians have come here to see the situation, made false promises and taken no action whatsoever. All they do is pass the buck from one department to the other, with the result that this garbage dumping area has been here for all my life," says Hussain Bootwala who owns a shop at Nabiullah Road. The garbage that comes from neighbouring buildings, restaurants, caterers, hawkers, sugar can juice vendors and other establishments is picked up twice a day by the BMC. However, the constant dumping of garbage in the area is a major health hazard to all and therefore should be changed, say many residents.