The Hindu        11.01.2011

MCC re-launches garbage collection drive

The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) on Monday re-launched the drive to segregate garbage and collect it from houses amidst questions about lack of accountability and a proper system for its success.

Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav launched the drive to collect segregated garbage in Derebail, Boloor and Mannagudda wards. “The corporation will re-launch the drive in other wards too. We are insisting on segregation of garbage in the house itself. This will help in scientific disposal of garbage,” Mr. Yadav said.

Mayor Rajani Dugganna and corporation Commissioner Vijay Prakash participated in the function.

There were questions about lack of a system for collection of garbage and also accountability among the officials. “There is no system for collection of garbage. One Deputy Commissioner initiates the drive, while his successor discontinues it. A proper system should be followed,” said 71-year-old Prabha Kudva, who has been collecting garbage in Gandhi Nagar for 12 years. On Monday, the corporation launched the drive with three persons working for Ms. Kudva moving around in Gandhinagar collecting garbage.

“If the person collecting garbage in an area does not come on a particular day what is the way ahead? Whom should the people contact? Who should be held accountable for non-collection of garbage?” Ms. Kudva asked.

Giving her own example, Ms. Kudva said: “My phone number is available with 500 households from where our persons collect garbage and segregate it every day. If one person falls sick, there is another ready to go to the designated area for garbage collection. People would not mind paying Rs. 30 a month if a proper system is put in place. We can't get in touch with officials through the toll free number.”

The local councillor should be actively involved in the process, she added.

Mr. Yadav said the corporation had made a note of the reasons for the failure of the earlier drive.

“We have all equipment and facilities for scientific disposal of garbage. What was lacking was segregation of waste,” he added.

Personnel assigned by the corporation would collect the segregated waste from houses. Biodegradable waste would be used for production of biogas.

A similar system of collection of garbage would commence in other civic bodies in the district, he said. Mr. Yadav and Mr. Vijayprakash visited the biogas plant under construction at Urwa Market. The plant is likely to be ready in the next two months.

Ms. Dugganna said the corporation was awaiting approval for the three-package solid waste management scheme that would help in effective disposal of waste. She urged people to pay Rs. 30 a month as service charge for collection of garbage.

Mr. Vijayprakash said the corporation would shortly declare Balmatta Road (between Vaas Bakery and Hampankatta Circle) as litter free zone. Apart from collecting biodegradable and non-degradable waste, a facility would be created for collection of e-waste. A city-based NGO would collect e-waste and send it to a Pune-based company for processing.