The Hindu 27.10.2010
Garbage clearance hit in Theni district
Staff Reporter
| Due to shortage of sanitary workers |
THENI: Even as the Theni district administration has taken efforts to make municipalities litter and plastic-free zones, some of the municipalities are not able to achieve the distinction owing to shortage of sanitary workers and lack of public awareness.
Bodinayakkanur municipality has achieved plastic-free zone status, thanks to effective community participation and strict follow-up action by officials. Still, it is struggling to clear the garbage in its wards. Almost all municipalities have been struggling to find a comprehensive solution for management of solid waste.
According to sources in these civic bodies, the number of sanitary workers does not match the quantum of garbage generated every day. Moreover, garbage increases during temple and other festivals.
With a cumbersome process in appointing even temporary staff, municipalities have been facing problems in clearing garbage during these special occasions, they point out.
With a population of 43,096 in 21 wards, Gudalur municipality has been generating eight tonnes of garbage every day. But it has 27 sanitary workers.
The floating population in this municipality is around 2,500. In Periakulam, 19 posts of sanitary workers remain vacant. At present, 40 workers are engaged in clearing garbage. It generates 16 tonnes of garbage everyday.
Similarly, Chinnamanur municipality, which has a population of 38,260 in 30 wards, has been generating around 13 tonnes of garbage every day. But it has only 60 workers. While Theni municipality generates 40 tonnes of garbage, Bodi produces 21 tonnes and Cumbum 22.5 tonnes every day.
On an average, two workers or less are involved in garbage clearing work in each ward within municipal limits. But these municipalities manage to do door-to-door collection. Segregation of waste and recycling and processing are still a tough task for many municipalities, despite sufficient infrastructure. Several municipalities have purchased land and vehicles for solid waste management and processing. But recycling is not being done properly. Now, burning is the only solution to reduce the volume of waste, they say. But town panchayats are leaders in converting waste into organic manure.
Some municipalities like Theni hesitate to privatise garbage clearance as they faced problems in privatising street lights maintenance. With poor performance of private agencies, it faced the wrath of public in some wards in Theni municipality.
Mass conversion of domestic wastes into organic manure would solve this problem as demand for organic manure is high in the district and in Kerala, said environmentalists.
