Among the many issues in solid waste management that the Coimbatore Corporation needs to attend to, one is the safe transport of waste from primary collection centres to the transit stations and compost yard.
The Coimbatore Corporation often fails to cover the waste transported in tipper lorries and this affects road users and residents, is the common complaint.
“On any given day, one can spot Corporation lorries, or those it has engaged, carrying waste in the open in lorries,” rues K.S. Mohan, a resident of Vellalore.
ADVERTISEMENT
Difficult
“Travelling behind the lorries becomes difficult, especially when the lorries negotiate speed breakers or potholes. Foul odour is the second problem – not only for the road users but for residents.”
The Coimbatore Corporation manages around 750 tonnes waste a day. It transports around 600 tonnes through its transit stations on Sathyamangalam Road, in Peelamedu and Ukkadam and the rest directly to the dump yard in Vellalore.
ADVERTISEMENT
To transport the waste the Corporation has deployed around 120 lorries, around 25 per cent of which are open, tipper lorries. The rest are either compactors or dumper placers, both of which are closed.
Sources in the Coimbatore Corporation say that ensuring closed transport of waste in lorries is the job of the zonal officials.
Admitting to laxity in ensuring the same, they say that it is also against rules.
Mr. Mohan says that he has represented the problem to the Corporation for over a year now but nothing much has happened.
In fact, the Tamil Nadu Government's ‘Ready Reckoner to Solid Waste Management Based on Solid Waste Management (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000' says that lorries carrying waste should be completely closed. The Government prepared the Reckoner in November 2008.
Officials in the Corporation promise that they will ensure that the waste-carrying lorries are henceforth closed. They also say that the civic body is planning to replace open, tipper lorries with closed lorries to transport waste.