Tamil Nadu News Papers

Outsourcing of solid waste management only in 10 wards

Tuesday, 02 December 2014 05:42

The Hindu 02.12.2014

Outsourcing of solid waste management only in 10 wards

A Chennai-based firm had allotted contract to handle 18 wards

In a sudden move, the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation has restricted the private solid waste management firm to carry out garbage cleaning in just 10 wards instead of 18 wards.

The move comes in the wake of reservations expressed by a few councillors to allow conservancy workers of private firm to clean their areas. They are apparently insisting that the garbage cleaning should be carried out only through conservancy workers employed by the corporation.

It had originally given permission to a Chennai-based firm to take up sanitary work and solid waste management in 18 wards. The council had given its approval for privatisation of garbage cleaning about one-and-a-half years ago.

As per the agreement, Srinivas Waste Management agency was asked to take up collection of garbage, segregation at source, and transport it to garbage dump yards. It was given charge of wards 8 and 9 in Srirangam zone; wards 7, 28, 29, 61, 62 and 64 in Ariyamangalam zone; wards 35-39, 63, and 65 in Golden Rock zone and wards 40, 41, and 45 in K. Abishekapuram zone besides Central and Chathram bus stands and Gandhi Market in the city. It had to cover 77,262 households in an area of 50 square km.

However, the private firm has been asked to restrict its activities to 10 wards, two bus stands, and Gandhi Market.

Asked about the reasons for downsizing the work by the private firm, V.P. Thandapani, Commissioner, told The Hindu that the idea was to ensure zero garbage in 10 wards. The private firm had been asked to show the results in the allotted areas and Gandhi Market. The authorities would closely follow the cleaning activities.

About the reported opposition by a few councillors, he said the decision was arrived after a long process and discussion at the council meeting. He had received requests from a few more councillors to outsource the garbage cleaning works. However, it was for the council to take a call on this.

Corporation councillors, staff take pledge to keep city clean

Tuesday, 02 December 2014 05:34

The Hindu 02.12.2014

Corporation councillors, staff take pledge to keep city clean

Led by Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellappa, councillors and officials took a pledge at the corporation office here on Monday to ensure cleanliness of the environment.

As part of the Chief Minister’s ‘Vision 2023’ programme, 2015 has been earmarked as a year to protect the environment by making available clean drinking water, proper sanitation facilities and effective garbage disposal.

Monthly meetings have been planned by the corporation with the participation of different departments and the public to check hygiene and cleanliness parameters across the city. The councillors took an oath to make judicious use of plastic materials and contribute towards recycling activities as well as work towards the general upkeep of their surroundings.

Civic chief to order probe into water connection irregularities

Monday, 01 December 2014 07:54

The Hindu 01.12.2014

Civic chief to order probe into water connection irregularities

Certain councillors of the Villupuram Municipality on Sunday alleged irregularities in providing water connections to the households in the town.

Responding to the allegation, Municipal Chairman Bhaskaran said that he would soon constitute an official team to look into the issue and based on the outcome of the enquiry, he would take appropriate action.

The councillors also stated that the electric crematorium in the town was now under the control of the social service organisation (Rotary Club) which was charging Rs 500 extra, over and above the charges prescribed by the council.

Lapses pointed out

The chairman said that the officials would look into the issue and take appropriate remedial measure. The councillors also pinpointed many lapses on the part of the local body such as inadequate and improper drainage facilities and scant regard for putting up rain water harvesting system.

They pointed out that the Thiru Vi.Ka Road was bursting at the seams owing to burgeoning vehicular population. This stretch was posing immense problem to the commuters and therefore the councillors sought urgent action to decongest the road and ease the traffic flow.

The councillors also noted that the ground water level had depleted to such a low that the borewells had gone dry and the prospects of divining water were almost nil. Only through rejuvenating the aquifer, the trend could be reversed, they said.

The Chairman said that solutions would be found to all these civic problems.

Last Updated on Monday, 01 December 2014 12:04

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