Sanitary workers of Tiruchi Corporation had to clear mounds of garbage on Thursday a day after Deepavali in different parts of the city.
On an average, it generates about 380 tonnes of garbage including vegetable waste at Gandhi Market and Central Bus Stand and Chathiram Bus Stand. It went up at least by 50 tonnes on Thursday.
As per official statistics, the Ariyamangalam dump yard, which is the main dump yard of the Corporation, received 430 tonnes up to 5 pm on Thursday. It was still getting loads from different parts of the city on Thursday too.
In addition, conservancy workers received about 135 tonne of non bio-degradable waste from residents. The waste was accumulated during the last one week so as to hand over to the Corporation workers on Wednesday, the day stipulated for collecting plastic waste. Since it was a holiday, the waste was collected on Thursday.
Out of 430 tonnes, burnt fire crackers were said to be about 50 tonnes. Though officials claimed that the garbage generated on Deepavali had been largely cleared and transported to the dump yard and micro compost yards, residents of various areas complained that fire cracker waste found on various interior roads and narrow lanes were yet to be cleared. They said that the approach followed on important thoroughfare in clearing garbage had not been followed on interior road.
“Garbage bins in our area are overflowing. Bins are overflowing. The garbage generated on Deepavali day has not been removed yet,” said S. Venkatachalam of Subbiah Street in Sangiliandapuram.
Complaining that proper attention has not been paid on clearing garbage in Sangiliandapuram, he said that additional garbage bins should be placed in order to prevent people from littering public spaces.
A senior official of the Corporation said that in addition to 1,500 conservancy workers, 500 Self Help Group members have been engaged in a special drive to clear garbage generated on Deepavali season. More than 90% of garbage has been cleared. The drive would come to an end before the dawn of Friday.
