Complaints of uncleared garbage at the airport, railway station and street corners is now commonplace news.

This picture shows uncleared garbage inside the compound of the Adi Shakti temple located inside the BBMP premises. This is not a one-time occurrence as a mound of garbage can be seen almost every other day inside the temple.

As the temple is located right at the entrance of one of the gates of the Corporation, it is indeed a poor advertisement for an organisation responsible for civic maintenance in the City.

The temple’s assistant priest Muni Raj said the garbage is cleared by the BBMP once in three days on a regular basis. “If not done so, it would be cleared on the fourth day,” he said.  Another priest here assured that the cleaning is done after 6 pm daily.

But garbage has been spotted here beyond 7 or even 8 pm many a time.  Another person employed near the temple said, “Garbage is cleared as per the whims and fancies of the workers contracted to do the job.

Nobody actually bothers to take care of this place.” A corporation official said that as the temple is private property, the BBMP cannot be held responsible for its maintenance.

Another top official said that foul smell often emanates from the place due to pujas performed using milk and other items which are not cleaned later. “It is upto those in the temple to maintain it,” he added. 

Ultimately, the temple has to be maintained cleanly keeping in mind the interest of the few devotees who pray here. Can the BBMP do something on a daily basis or will be it left to God?