The missing link in garbage removal

By R.K. Radhakrishnan

CHENNAI, JAN. 13. The commitment of the Chennai Corporation to improve garbage removal in the city and expertise of the multinational firm, CES-Onyx, seem insufficient to maintain a cleaner, `Singara' Chennai. Mylapore, Ice House and Kodambakkam have witnessed a remarkable improvement in garbage collection but litter on the roads soon after cleaning-up has remained in pre- Onyx era levels.

Every day, hundreds of Onyx personnel fan out in the three Corporation zones and clean up roads and streets and lanes and bylanes. But a couple of hours later, the garbage is back on the streets, almost everywhere.

The problem is apparent in most areas of the city, particularly along the bigger roads. While residents in some areas take care to deposit their garbage in bins, just before the garbage man comes along, the lack of cooperation is apparent in far too many areas in the Mylapore, Ice House and Kodambakkam.

The missing link is one of awareness. Officials point to the lack of awareness and disinterest among people, despite the efforts they had put in. The thinking in the corridors of Ripon Building is that people should behave and start depositing garbage in the litter bins. But, others point out that the awareness drives have not been taken up seriously. ``Even when the Onyx started operations, the awareness drives began very late'', points out one.

For instance, the people of Ice House zone `underwent' an awareness campaign for about 15 days on the need to dispose wastes in Onyx bins from February 15 to the first week of March early this year. A multimedia awareness drive including audio- visual presentations, handouts, school campaigns, people-to- people contact and advertisement in the various media was taken up and given up after the two-week period. Some Non-Governmental Organisations had also gone around highlighting the need to "respect collection timings" and to avoid "littering the ground."

``When you look back, you can see that just after the campaign, there was a significant change in the way people handled garbage'', says a Corporation staffer. ``They waited for the garbage vehicle to come, and even took care to deposit refuse in the bin'', he adds. But after the initial euphoria and the wait for the white, bell-clanging vehicles, it is "business as usual" in many parts of Ice House: garbage is strewn all over.

Similar awareness efforts in the past too elicited identical responses. For instance, in January 1998, the Governor, Ms. Fathima Beevi, flagged off the cleanliness campaign of the Chennai Corporation at the Raj Bhavan. The 10-day campaign in select areas of the city, was organised to coincide with the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

Much later, when the Onyx services was extended, the Mayor spent time walking down long stretches around the city spreading the message of cleanliness in the city. Also, organisations like the Exnora have been popularising concepts including waste reduction and zero-garbage at home.

But all the efforts, mostly disjointed, have only elicited sporadic responses from people. A more broad-based, people- centred approach, involving councillors, elected representatives and NGOs is needed to bring about a significant change.

A beginning could be made if the Corporation implements its own laws relating to ban on cattle and nuisance seriously, some residents and a section of officials feel.

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