The Hindu         19.06.2012

Corporation steps into Ramky zone

Staff Reporter

The Chennai Corporation on Monday commenced conservancy
work on ward nos. 110 and 112 in Teynampet zone which, until earlier
this week, were under the charge of private conservancy operator Ramky
Enviro Engineers. Around 150 new conservancy labourers have been
deployed in the two wards by the civic body.

Starting
Wednesday, the Chennai Corporation will take over the conservancy work
in ward nos.127 and128 in Kodambakam zone and ward nos.170 and174 in the
Adyar zone as well.

Conservancy operations in many
localities near Poonamallee High Road, Padavattamman Koil Street,
Kaliamman Koil Street, Gangaiamman Koil Street, Nerkundram Road,
Kamarajar Salai, Arcot Road, Rajamannar Salai, Anna Main Road, Anna
Salai, Sardar Patel Road and Gandhi Mandapam Road, all of which fall
under the six wards that have been taken over, will now be done by the
civic body.

Residents happy

Residents
and councillors claimed that the new initiative on Monday had improved
conditions in some localities. T. Gunasekaran, a resident of
Jayalakshmipuram of Teynampet zone said: “Garbage was not removed for
over 10 days in our locality. It was stinking. Today, the new workers
came and cleared many such areas.”

K. Chandrasekaran,
Corporation Councillor of ward no. 110 said that he used to receive
over 15 complaints on garbage clearance in a day. “Supervision of
conservancy work was not adequate in the ward,” he said.

S.
Sakthi, councillor of ward no.112 said the number of new conservancy
workers deployed by the Corporation had remained the same as that of
Ramky. As many as 70 workers have been deployed in ward no. 112.

The Corporation has agreed to pay the new contract workers Rs. 247 per day.

Ramky clarifies

Ramky
Enviro Engineers in a written statement on Monday clarified that they
were still bound by the terms of agreement signed with the Corporation
of Chennai and that there was no deviation from it. “We are fulfilling
all the conditions set before us as per the agreement. It is not right
to suggest that Ramky is not willing to pay its workers more than Rs.
205. We are paying the workers not only the minimum wages fixed by the
Collector as per the Shops and Establishments Act under which the legal
entity is registered, but are also contributing towards each worker’s
ESI, PF, gratuity and bonus, so the amount each worker earns is
substantially higher than what is suggested in the media reports. The
media reports regarding the demand for higher wages are shifting the
focus in the minds of workers away from work and productivity and are
disrupting operations.”

The company also denied the
report that it doesn’t have the required number of workers as mandated
in the agreement. “The company does have the required number of workers
but absenteeism has resulted in a shortage of workers. But we have
resorted to hiring more than 500 workers as well as employing the
workers of the previous conservancy operator to tide over the crisis.”

The
statement from Ramky added that it was handling over 1,600 tonnes of
waste per day, compared to the 1,500 tonnes of waste mandated in the
agreement. “We are able to clear all the bins within our jurisdiction as
per the time indicated. But unfortunately, there is no enforcement on
the commercial establishments and bulk generators who are generating
huge quantity of waste and dumping it in the bins at night, which is
resulting in the overflow of bins. We have requested the Corporation to
issue notice to these establishments to keep the waste with them in
packed mode so that we can collect at their door step.”

“We
are trying to bring more workers for night shift by paying additional
wages, so that we can clear the main roads and commercial areas in the
night. We recruited more than 100 sweepers in each zone for night
sweeping. We will bring it to the maximum night sweeping level within a
few months in coordination with the Chennai Corporation,” Ramky’s
statement added.

The statement pointed to the fact
that sweeping operations in Hyderabad were carried out all through the
night to have the city ready by morning. But in Chennai it is expected
that sweeping operations be completed between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and this
is proving very difficult for the sweepers, the statement said.