The Times of India 30.09.2009
After weekend fest, city grapples with garbage
CHENNAI: Celebration of Ayudha Pooja by Chennaittes made the conservancy workers of the Chennai Corporation busy even on Tuesday in clearing the garbage accumulated during the festive days. While the city generates about 3,500 tonnes of garbage every day, the Ayudha Puja on Sunday saw and additional 500 tonnes of garbage getting piled up across the city.
Dumping of garbage was higher than usual on Monday and Tuesday too. Beaches and parks were people thronged on the holidays were the most littered. "While generation of garbage will be more during festival times, Ayudha Pooja sees the most in terms of quantity. While festivals like Pongal and Deepavali are celebrated only in houses, Ayudha Puja is celebrated also in shops, factories and offices. Normally, garbage is cleared during day time at residential areas and night hours at commercial areas and markets. This week, we have asked our staff to clear garbage two times a day to ensure there is no accumulation, mainly in zones such as Kodambakkam, Adyar and Anna Nagar, where garbage generation is more,'' said a senior corporation official. Though the civic body has initiated source segregation, residents are yet to join in, he added.
Many conservancy workers said celebration of Ayudha Pooja will go on till Friday and even Saturday in many places, mainly in places like autorickshaw stands and many commercial establishments . "Pongal, Deepavali and Vinayaga Chaturthi festivals will be celebrated for one or two days, ut in the case of Ayudha Puja it will extend for a week. So our vehicles have to make more trips carrying garbage to the dumping yard,'' said a conservancy worker in the civic body.
While the corporation, having about 9,500 conservancy workers, is clearing about 2,000 tonnes of garbage in six of the ten zones daily, Neel Metal Fanalca, a private firm, is removing about 1,500 tonnes of garbage in the remaining four zones.
"Generation of more garbage during festival times is quite natural and it is inevitable that it would take one or two days to clear the garbage accumulated in addition to the usual quantity. We don't see any laxity on the part of the corporation,'' said S Kasturi Rangan, secretary, Exnora Innovators Club.
Dumping of garbage was higher than usual on Monday and Tuesday too. Beaches and parks were people thronged on the holidays were the most littered. "While generation of garbage will be more during festival times, Ayudha Pooja sees the most in terms of quantity. While festivals like Pongal and Deepavali are celebrated only in houses, Ayudha Puja is celebrated also in shops, factories and offices. Normally, garbage is cleared during day time at residential areas and night hours at commercial areas and markets. This week, we have asked our staff to clear garbage two times a day to ensure there is no accumulation, mainly in zones such as Kodambakkam, Adyar and Anna Nagar, where garbage generation is more,'' said a senior corporation official. Though the civic body has initiated source segregation, residents are yet to join in, he added.
Many conservancy workers said celebration of Ayudha Pooja will go on till Friday and even Saturday in many places, mainly in places like autorickshaw stands and many commercial establishments . "Pongal, Deepavali and Vinayaga Chaturthi festivals will be celebrated for one or two days, ut in the case of Ayudha Puja it will extend for a week. So our vehicles have to make more trips carrying garbage to the dumping yard,'' said a conservancy worker in the civic body.
While the corporation, having about 9,500 conservancy workers, is clearing about 2,000 tonnes of garbage in six of the ten zones daily, Neel Metal Fanalca, a private firm, is removing about 1,500 tonnes of garbage in the remaining four zones.
"Generation of more garbage during festival times is quite natural and it is inevitable that it would take one or two days to clear the garbage accumulated in addition to the usual quantity. We don't see any laxity on the part of the corporation,'' said S Kasturi Rangan, secretary, Exnora Innovators Club.
