Cleanliness drives are the new in-thing and groups of residents have been taking the initiative to give their localities a new look by collaborating to remove garbage from around their homes.
A visitor to Ormes Road, Fourth Cross in Kilpauk for instance would immediately notice a difference in the locality. “It was the women residents of different apartment complexes who came forward to initiate this effort. Each house contributed Rs. 100 and we bought gloves, masks and brooms and swept our street clean. We drew inspiration from the Prime Minister’s campaign,” said Sagar Malhotra, an engineering student who participated in the clean up. Calling themselves ‘The Green Brigade,’ they want residents from other areas of Chennai too to pitch in to keep the city clean.
After cleaning their street, they realised that since many cars were parked on the street, conservancy staff were unable to sweep it properly. They decided to move their cars for a while in the mornings so that the sweeping of streets could be more effective. Sharing their experience through Friends of Chennai, they felt that it was also up to residents to ensure that their localities are clean.
If the Ormes Road brigade comprises mostly women and children, the one from Agarwal Vidyalaya consists of class XI students. These students, numbering close to 80, clean the roads every Tuesday and Saturday. Parents have welcomed the idea of their children stepping in to clean the streets and the school management too supports them. Ayush Gupta, a resident, says: “We clean the streets in Vepery and Purasawalkam. We now plan to install banners asking people not to spit and throw garbage on the roads.”
“We need smaller garbage bins on the roads and bus shelters. People must be encouraged to throw even smaller pieces of paper and wrappers in it,” he said.
Old Washermenpet resident Menakha Pugalenthi and her colleagues, who recently cleaned some areas in Guindy, said the lack of bins was a major problem. “We saw layers of garbage mixed with the mud on road margins. I think the Corporation must concentrate on smaller lanes as well. There is a need for proper supervision when it comes to conservancy,” she suggested.