Huge generation of waste on account of Deepavali and indiscriminate dumping of plastic waste by traders, mainly textile shops, on N.S.B. Road and Singarathope, has made the task difficult for the conservancy workers.
Though garbage has piled up in almost all places in the city, N.S.B Road and Singarathope, the main commercial area, bore the brunt of unmindful dumping of plastic bags by permanent and temporary textile traders. A visit to the commercial areas, a day after the Deepavali on Wednesday, revealed that the traders, who had set up temporary shops on N.S.B. Road, Nandhi Koil Street, Super Bazaar, Big Bazaar, Chinnakadai Street, Singarathope and other neighbouring streets, abandoned thousands of plastic bags, which were mainly used to cover dress materials, on the night of Monday. The plastic covers were found strewn at various places. In several areas, they were found in drainage too, choking the flow of sewage water.
Garbage has accumulated in many other places of the city including Gandhi Market, a wholesale and retail vegetable market, Uzhavar Sandhai at Anna Nagar and other vegetable shopping areas in the city. The waste, upon completion of hectic sale on the penultimate day of Deepavali on Monday, was seen spilling over garbage bins at several areas. The hawkers, who soled plantain leaves, flowers and fruits in various parts of the city, also abandoned leftovers on streets. In addition to them, the waste generated while firing crackers has also seen in almost all areas.
The city generates about 450 tonnes of garbage on normal days. But on Monday and Tuesday, according to a rough estimate, more than 1,000 tonnes of waste was generated.
Conservancy workers of the Corporation, who were given a day leave on account of Deepavali, resumed their work on Wednesday, with thin attendance.
Corporation Commissioner N. Ravichandran, who visited various areas of the city on Wednesday, told The Hindu that several textile traders had simply abandoned hundreds of plastic covers after completing the Deepavali sale on commercial streets. Most of them did not bother to place them on dust bins. They should have cooperated with the civic body in maintaining the city clean and neat. Indiscriminate dumping of waste by traders would be viewed seriously. Instructions had been given to the Assistant Commissioners to impose hefty fine on violators.
As far cleaning waste generated on the Deepavali day was concerned, Mr. Ravichandran said all conservancy workers had been asked to report for duty immediately. The task would be completed within a day.
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