The Hindu 07.11.2009
1.12 lakh tonne garbage cleared post-flood
Special Correspondent
| Kurnool witnesses one of the biggest cleansing operations |
56,305 workers engaged to clean the city for a whole month
46 Municipal Commissioners took part in sanitation operations
KURNOOL: The Municipal Corporation which launched one of the biggest cleansing operations post-flood, cleared 1.12 lakh tonne garbage since October 4. The officials said the operation was nearing completion.
Initially, the officials estimated that one lakh tonne had accumulated on the streets after the flood. Each household was expected to have generated two tonnes. Presently,around 1,000 tonne was being generated in the city as against the normal garbarge clearance of 250 tonne.
The highest amount of waste was cleared between October 6 and 13 which was around 8,500 tonne per day. The vehicles carting away the garbage came to around 37,484 sorties. Also, 56,305 workers were engaged to clean the city for a whole month. Around 2,000 workers were engaged on an average every day. The labour force included 12,355 workers from 47 other municipalities in the State.
Cost of operations
A total of 9,568 vehicles were engaged for 30 days at the rate of 200 per day. The operations cost the government more than Rs. 5 crore.
Contractors were engaged only to clean drains and were paid at the rate of Rs.1,800 per tractor load for transport, removal of silt and loading. Apart from one Principal Secretary rank officer, four special officers, two additional directors and three regional directors and 46 municipal commissioners took part in the sanitation operations.
Arrangement was made for payment of wages at the end of the day by parking funds with the respective Municipal Commissioners who were made in charge of different wards.
A total of 500 tonnes of bleaching powder was spread on the city streets. Finding dumping places was a difficult thing as residents of no locality or village were willing to accept garbage in their area. Finally, a few individuals came forward to allow garbage to be emptied into a low-lying private land.
