Inadequate conservancy workers, escalating wage bill and insufficient machines have prompted the Salem City Municipal Corporation to hire a private contractor to carry out the garbage disposal for a total length of 282 km. in 21 wards.
This comes after the civic body had terminated the agreement with the private firm SRP three months ago, that was entrusted with the job of cleaning garbage in those wards, and the civic body taking up the challenging task. But shortage of manpower and machines has left heaps of garbage on road apart from overflowing sewers in residential areas as the civic body has to maintain 21 wards apart from 39 wards that it is already maintaining. A resolution to hire new contractor was recently passed at the council meeting as proposal would be sent to Commissioner of Municipal Administration, Chennai, before floating the tender.
The total population of the city stands at 8, 31,038 with around 350 metric tonne solid waste generated every day. As per the government order, three conservancy workers should be in place for every 250 residence apart from carrying out garbage disposal work in bus stand, daily market and for regular maintenance works. As per norms, 2,015 workers were required for all the 60 wards of which only 1,219 were currently working. “As many as 796 workers were needed for 21 wards alone. Shortage of work force should not hamper the solid waste disposal work as the private contractor would soon be entrusted with the job”, a Corporation official said.
Wards which will be handed over to the private firm include, 2, 7, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 45 that comes in all the four zones of the Corporation limits.
Under the Integrated Urban Development Mission (IUDM), the civic body has placed orders for Rs. 5.5 crore to procure 24 vehicles, including high capacity tipper and dumper placer vehicles, refuse compactor vehicles, front end loader and backhoe excavator stainless steel bins for solid waste management.
Around 350 metric tonnes solid waste is generated every day
As per the government order, three conservancy workers will be in place for every 250 residence
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