New Dhanush to work 12 hours post evening

Three teams to work for five months during monsoon in City

After almost two years, Dhanush teams are all set to make a comeback. The three teams that were constituted to tackle eventualities during monsoon, will become operational in the next few days. The teams will tend to trees that have uprooted, clogged drains and water inundation in low lying areas.

Each team will comprise 10 members, who will be on call between 6 pm and 6 am in Krishnaraja, Chamaraja and Narasimharaja. Earlier, the teams were seen working round the clock.

P G Ramesh, MCC Commissioner, said that unlike previously, MCC will not make appointments on contract basis. Its own employees will be deputed for the purpose. Each team will comprise a junior engineer, health inspector, work inspector, gang man and other labourers.

Ramesh said that the teams will be put to work for five months during the monsoon. If, needed their services will be extended, he added. The teams will be finalised in the next three to four days.

Dhanush, was the brain child of the then MCC Commissioner P Manivannan. But the corporation had abandoned it wanting to reduce costs. 

Ramesh also said that the teams will not be diverted towards other duties, (which members of the earlier teams were forced to do) including distribution of letters and circulars to officers and corporators, aside from inspecting tree branches and street lights. The new teams will only focus on problems related to rains.

M R Ravi, former MCC commissioner, during whose term Dhanush had been wound up, said that when he assumed power at MCC, the teams had already become defunct as the contract had lapsed, needing renewals.

He said that the teams were not  trained to handle disasters, and added that there were discrepancies in appointment of contractors. “Rather than helping a contractor, the project should aid people at the times of disasters. I was not convinced with the quality of workers and thus decided not to extend their contract.” he added.

He also suggested that MCC utilise its own employees, as opposed to hiring people from outside, to make Dhanush a success.

Citizens can call the control room number - 0821-2418800, 2418816, 243112, 2440890 to summon the Dhanush teams.