Southern States
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Tamil Nadu-Chennai
SIDCO Nagar shows the way
By Karthik Subramanian
CHENNAI, FEB. 5. Just two months ago, SIDCO Nagar in Villivakkam presented a squalid sight for residents and visitors alike with mounds of uncleared garbage strewn all along the roads.
But, concerted efforts by the residents' welfare associations and zonal officials have transformed the region into a spic and span area.
Conservancy staff of the civic agency undertake door-to-door collection of garbage in the mornings, using the tricycles provided by the residents' welfare association. A new ``Deluse'' has been constructed in the area, using the local councillor's funds, in an open space, which was earlier used as a dumping ground.
Prior to the implementation of the door-to-door collection, there were at least 200 ``spots'' within the ward, where garbage used to get collected. But with the streamlining of garbage collection, there are now 11 segregation centres, from where the Corporation lorries transport them to the yard.
For the Corporation, the synergy between the local residents' associations and the councillor is a welcome phenomenon. Though the door-to-door collection of garbage and source segregation, have already been demonstrated by various civic agencies, the question of coordination with councillors has always been a moot point.
But now, emboldened by the SIDCO Nagar experience, the
civic body plans to replicate similar examples in at least 25 divisions within the next couple of months. This would be a ``step forward'' towards source segregation of garbage, which is one of norms laid down by the Municipal Solid Waste Handling Rule, 2000.
``On earlier occasions, we tried to establish source segregation by coordinating with the resident associations. But their representatives had first asked us to put in place a proper system for collection of garbage. The door-to-door collection is
a move in that direction,'' officials handling Solid Waste Management at the Corporation said.
Other areas where the Corporation is currently coordinating with residents welfare associations include Thanthai Periyar Nagar and Chakravarthi Nagar in Ayanavaram (Ward 25), McNichols Road in Nungambakkam (Ward 72), Shanmuga Raiyan Street and Thayappamudali Street in Seven Wells area (Ward 25) and Nawab Habibullah Avenue in Nungambakkam (Ward 109).
The civic agency is holding a meeting with all the conservancy inspectors and supervisors through this week to identify more streets for implementation of ``door-to-door'' collection of garbage. On Tuesday, the inspectors were asked to draw up a list of NGOS and voluntary organisations that would coordinate with the Corporation in its drive. The only prerequisite is that the tricycles should be provided by the resident's welfare organisations while the Corporation would provide the staff.
In a rare instance, a systematic collection of garbage through a citizen-Corporation partnership is being attempted in SIDCO Nagar, Villivakkam. _ Photo: S. Thanthoni
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