On Tuesday, about 1000 employees and senior executives of the Madurai Corporation joined their team of conservancy workers on a noble project: To clean up the ‘ Aringnar Anna Maaligai’ – the headquarters of the civic body.
With the slogan – ‘keep your campus clean and green’ – and as part of the Smart City initiative, the Corporation had proposed to start the drive, first, from its own premises.
The multi-storeyed building on a sprawling campus situated on the Alagarkoil Road witnessed hectic activity from morning and, by evening, the conservancy workers cleared huge volume of debris, thus setting the ball rolling.
Before reaching out to the people to keep their surroundings clean, the staff at the Corporation had to ensure that their campus was in good shape, said Commissioner Sandeep Nanduri.
Speaking to reporters while leading the cleaning programme with face masks and hand gloves at the Aringnar Anna Maaligai, he said that for the next 15 days the Corporation staff would clean all government office premises in the city, with the support of the respective department staff.
This is a joint effort to give a facelift to the ancient city. Government premises including the Collectorate, Tangedco and PWD offices, and Chief Educational Office, among others, would be cleaned.
Under the Smart Cities Mission, Madurai narrowly missed the opportunity to make it to the first list.
This time, we are leaving no stone unturned to see that the ancient city figured in the next list of Smart Cities, Mr. Sandeep Nanduri said.
Towards this goal, he further said, the Corporation was working with all the stake holders to revise and strengthen its proposal.
The most crucial inputs would have to come from the citizens as it would help the civic body in identifying priority areas and pinpoint drawbacks, he said.