Sanitation work is outsourced by the Thanjavur
municipality and soon tenders will be called to engage 197 sanitary
workers through private parties in the work, said Janaki Ravindran,
Commissioner of Thanjavur municipality, here on Friday.

Speaking
at the regular municipal meeting, Ms. Janaki Ravindran said that it was
already decided that 181 workers would be needed for sanitation work in
the wards. Recently 16 municipality permanent staff had retired. Along
with them 197 workers will be engaged on private basis for sanitation
works.

Regarding operation and maintenance of the
gasifier at Shanthivanam cremation ground of Sundaram Nagar, the
Commissioner said that Environment Health Education and Development
Trust, a private organisation, has come forward to take up the work.

It
has proposed to give Rs.1,500 for cremating one body, out of which the
municipality will get Rs.100 for giving wages to workers, meet fuel
expenses among others. Rajeswaran, councillor, appealed to the
Commissioner to fix the rates for cremating bodies in all the cremation
grounds in Thanjavur, including Raja Gori, the main cremation ground and
Mariammankoil cremation ground.

As proper wages or
other service charges have not been fixed, workers demand exorbitant
amount. He also demanded putting up speed breakers near Sacred Heart
Convent at Mary’s corner, near Uzhavar Sandhai on Nanjikottai road and
Thenkeel Alankam.

Sun Ramanathan, councillor, said that for cremating a body the workers demanded Rs.3,500 recently.

Savithiri Gopal, chairperson of Thanjavur municipality, presided over.