The Tiruchirapalli City Corporation Council on Wednesday served a 15-day ultimatum on a private agency engaged for garbage collection work in 11 wards of the city. The civic body wants the agency to drastically improve garbage clearance work.
While registering the dissatisfaction of the councillors over the agency’s work, a resolution said permission given to the agency would be cancelled if it failed to adhere to the provisions of the agreement. It should increase the number of workers employed for the conservancy work. If the agency came up with good performance it could continue the garbage clearing work. Otherwise, the corporation would cancel the contract. A decision to this effect was taken at the end of a discussion on the subject during the corporation council meeting here on Wednesday.
Earlier, many councillors of 11 wards, where the agency was undertaking garbage cleaning for the last one year, cutting across the party lines, put up a united show in expressing dissatisfaction over the company entrusted with solid waste management in the wards.
Kavitha Selvam of the DMK said the agency did not have sufficient manpower to execute the task. In spite of repeated efforts, the agency was unable to post sanitary workers as per the agreement. It had affected the garbage cleaning in the city.
Malaikottai V. Ayyappan of the AIADMK said the subject on cancellation of private agency had been placed before the council thrice. Councillors concerned had been expressing dismay over the functioning of the agency. Hence, the private agency should not be allowed to continue. The solid waste management was better when the corporation workers were handling it.
Mayor A. Jaya said the corporation employed a private agency because of shortage of manpower. The apprehension of the councillors would be taken very seriously.
N.S. Prema, Commissioner, said 688 posts of sanitary workers had remained vacant for several years. Permission had been sought from the government to fill the vacancies. As far as the private agency was concerned, it was supposed to involve at least 340 persons for cleaning work. However, it had been deputing just 200 persons. It was highly inefficient. The company had to increase the number of sanitary workers immediately. Otherwise, the company had to face action, she said.
