Buoyed by the stabilisation of the first phase of 'Smart Wards' programme, Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT), in the second phase, will focus on providing 100 per cent drinking water and underground drainage system (UDS) connections to denizens.
MCT officials, in the first phase, focused on sanitation i.e., door-to-door collection of segregated waste and had also distributed coloured bins to denizens, for separating dry and wet waste. “We wanted streamline the work, mainly by assigning the wards. Five wards, as a group, would be looked after by an inspector and 10-15 workers would be employed in each ward (based on the requirements). The responsibility of 50 wards would be held by the Health Officer,” said MCT Commissioner V. Vinay Chand.
He asserted that the programme had been successfully implemented in 28 wards, including the distribution of coloured dustbins. “We are running educational campaigns on benefits of waste segregation, with help from SHGs and MSW students of Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV),” he added. Officials further remarked that the addition of 16 tonne capacity 'Refuse Compactors' along with the dumper bins, has registered a rise in waste collection at Tukivakam and Ramapuram dump yards, for which the waste segregation has played a major role.
Aim is to saturate water supply in Tirupati
Officials are now focusing on drinking water supply and sewerage connections (Telugu Ganga water and UDS network). Existing connections, whether regular or illegal would be verified and set up based on the availability of the distribution network. With the sanction of Rs.70 crore under the AMRUT scheme, it would be a shot in the arm for the developmental activities in the temple city, the officials opined.
