Dirty Patna belittles govt development works: Nitish

Asking officials to keep the capital clean, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he often faces embarrassment when VVIPs tell him about the garbage here and such remarks belittle the work done by the state government.
"Whenever some VVIPs meet me, they point towards dirt prevailing in Patna. I feel such adverse comments belittle all the development work done by the state government. Its very sad," Kumar said while addressing a function after inaugurating a sting of projects of Urban Development Department.
Hitting out at Patna Mayor Afzal Imam who was present at the programme, Kumar said "I am fed up reading news about the clash between Mayor and Patna Municipal Corporation officials."

"The government could use the Patna Municipal Corporation's 'last right' (if the situation does not improve because of the clash)," he said without elaborating.
"See how Mumbai Municipal Corporation and other municipalities are working efficiently," he said.
The Chief Minister expressed the concern in wake of a recent survey which listed Patna among the ten dirtiest cities of India.

Noting that the growing noise pollution in Patna was due to unnecessary honking by vehicles, Kumar said the state government has initiated steps to curb noise pollution.
"Blowing of siren in the convoy of CM and others has been banned. Permission has been given only to cars of Governor and Chief Justice of Patna High Court to use siren in addition to Ambulances," he said.

Kumar also expressed concern over the rise in level of carbon emissions and suggested greater use of public transport to minimise use of private vehicles.
The CM flagged off 140 new buses of Bihar State Transport Corporation, including two women specials.
Kumar travelled in a women special bus on a Rs 5 ticket. In the women special buses, there would be female conductors and drivers should also be woman, he said.
The CM inaugurated a sting of projects on the occasion, including water supply, electronic traffic light for Patna and a multi-storeyed parking near Patna junction.