The Hindu 08.02.2010
Massive cleaning drive in city
Staff Reporter
| Following frequent complaints from Councillors |
– PHOTO: M. GOVARTHAN 
In full swing: Erode Corporation recently carried out a cleaning exercise in the main thoroughfares of the city and plans to continue it in all the 45 wards.
ERODE: Under fire from Councillors for “unsatisfactory” job, the Erode Corporation’s health department has managed to pull up its socks and do something to keep the city clean.
Following directions from Mayor K. Kumar Murugesh and Commissioner B. Balachandran, the department launched mass cleaning operation.
In the first phase the health wing has focussed on cleaning sewerage, most of which were chocked following dumping of garbage. Corporation Health Officer S. Somasundaram said the department had marshalled all conservancy workers to clean drains, especially those on main thoroughfares and market areas.
As part of the operation, conservancy workers cleaned drains in three major locations. The first area was Periyar Nagar and it included Raja Kadu, Govindaraj Nagar, Housing Board and neighbouring areas. The second area was Madhav Krishna Street, Ayyanarappan Koil Street, and the third area was Nethaji daily market, Jinnah Street, Kongalamman Koil Street and Valayakara Veethi.
Dr. Somasundaram said the Corporation pressed into service more than 100 workers, who removed solid waste, silt and other items to ensure free flow of drains.
“Some drains had not been cleaned for nearly a decade in the aforementioned areas and all those drains were cleaned in the operation,” he said and pointed out that 17.8 tonnes garbage was removed.
He said people’s habit of dumping solid waste, plastic bags and anything and everything had led to the clogging of drains and asked residents to avoid dumping solid waste in the drains.
The civic body launched the second cleaning operation on Friday last in those parts of Periyar Nagar that were not covered in the first cleaning drive, portions of Kongalamman Koil Street, Kamaraj Street and nearby areas.
This time the garbage collected weighed 19 tonnes, the health officer said and added that around 150 workers were employed for the purpose.
He added that the health department would continue the cleaning operation in almost all areas and in the next phase machines would be used to remove the silt.
Commissioner Mr. Balachandran said the civic body decided to take up the mass cleaning drive following complaints from Councillors, who complained of clogged drains and poor disposal of garbage in the last Council meeting.
He added that the cleaning drive would be carried out in consultation with Councillors, who would be asked to come up with areas to be cleaned. The areas suggested would be inspected and then the operation would begin.
He too appealed to the people to avoid dumping garbage in drains and use bins the civic body had put up.
