Garbage collection and compacting vehicles and equipment, totally worth about Rs.3.34 crore, which were acquired by Tiruchi Corporation to improve solid waste management in the city, hit the road on Saturday.
The vehicles and equipment were formally handed over to corporation sanitary workers by N.R.Sivapathi, Minister for School Education, Law, Youth Welfare and Sports, in Srirangam on Friday.
The corporation had acquired the five ‘compactor’ vehicles and 250 garbage bins with funds sanctioned by the State government under the Integrated Urban Development Programme (IUDP).
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Mr.Sivapathi said that the State government had sanctioned Rs.23 crore under the IUDP to Tiruchi Corporation in the current year for improving civic amenities and infrastructure. In the previous financial year, Rs.17 crore was sanctioned. The vehicles and equipment, he said, would help improve efficiency of the solid waste handling and reduce the time taken for clearing garbage.
The Minister flagged off a rally taken out by members of Youth Exnora of Srimad Andavan College of Arts and Science and Jamal Mohamed College, and NSS volunteers to sensitise people against the use of plastics below 40 microns in thickness in Srirangam.
He also inaugurated the special polio immunisation campaign for migrant children taken up in 141 locations in the city.
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P.Kumar, MP, R.Manoharan, M.Paranjothi, T.P.Poonatchi, R.Chandrasekaran and Indira Gandhi, MLAs, Jayashree Muralidharan, Collector, A.Jaya, Mayor, and V.P.Thandapani, Corporation Commissioner, were present.
Free saplings
Meanwhile, Collector Jayashree Muralidharan has announced that saplings will be distributed to people handing in plastic products at the 51 collection centres to be set up in Srirangam by the corporation as part of its campaign to discourage the use of non bio-degradable plastics.
IThe corporation has already announced that coupons will be issued to people handing in plastics at the collection centres on Sunday and Monday in Srirangam and a lucky dip will be held on Monday.
Gold, silver and LED bulbs will be given as prizes to winners of the lucky dip.