The Hindu 20.06.2016
Erode Corporation yet to ensure effective waste segregation at source
The City Corporation is understandably yet to make inroads in segregation of waste at source.
The workers take a pretty lengthy duration to gather wastes from the doorsteps. In very many localities, the conservancy workers come for collecting wastes only once in three or four days.
The workers say they cannot be blamed since pushing the load of wastes drains their energy and consumes enormous time. Sanitary workers find the pushcarts provided by the Corporation rather cumbersome to handle. “In fact, we are left with very little time to segregate the garbage, and find ourselves constrained to throw the entire wastes into the bin,” a worker said, advocating battery fitment for the tricycles.
Incidentally, workers handling wastes with the two battery-operated three-wheelers donated in recent months by Olirum Erodu Foundation in Zones II and IV are able to enhance their productivity and efficiency. The three-wheelers are being utilised in Periyar Nagar and Suriyampalayam.
According to OEF sources, a battery-operated vehicle costs around Rs. 1.5 lakh. The one-time investment is worth making since the workers will be able to find time for segregating wastes at source, residential associations emphasise.
A good number of local bodies in the State have taken the lead in providing battery-operated three-wheelers for scientific waste disposal.
Earlier this month, District Collector S. Prabakar handed over a battery-operated three-wheeler to the Lakhapuram Panchayat adjoining the city limits.
The vehicle that would be operated by members of women self-help groups was jointly donated by OEF and Young Indians of CII Erode Zone.
They were educated about biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes before initiating them into door-to-door collection.
