Tamil Nadu - Udhagamandalam   

Efforts on to remove discarded plastic items from dumpyard

D. Radhakrishnan

`Changes in Solid Waste Management scheme under consideration'

FOCUS ON HYGIENE: Sanitary workers collecting non-biodegradable plastic items from the Municipal dumpyard at Theetukal near Udhagamandalam. — Photo: D. Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam: The civic administration has embarked on a major plan to remove discarded plastic items from the dumpyard at Theetukal near here.

Stating that it was for the first time that such an attempt was being made, the Commissioner, Udhagamandalam Municipality, Seeni Ajmal Khan told The Hindu here on Monday that since a huge quantity of non-biodegradable plastic items had accumulated over the six-acre dump yard, it had been engaging the attention of the authorities for some time now.

Development works

However, because the area belonged to the Forest Department, the municipality could not take up any development works on it. There were also frequent complaints of animals dying after swallowing plastic bags along with rejected food items.

Though most of the plastic items had been dumped several years ago, some had found their way to the place recently despite a ban on disposable cups, plates, bags etc, which had been imposed a few years ago.

With a Coimbatore-based company, which manufactured plastic items, evincing interest in buying the discarded plastic items, it had been decided to segregate the garbage at Theetukal.

Pointing out that the work had commenced about a week ago, Mr. Khan added that over 100 sanitary workers had been pressed into service. About two tonnes of plastic items were expected to be collected.

Segregation

Stating that "we were also contemplating introduction of changes in the implementation of the Solid Waste Management scheme," he said that emphasis would be laid on segregating the domestic garbage into degradable and non-biodegradable at source itself. While the municipality already had the necessary equipment, about 90 more pushcarts would be acquired.

As a long-term solution to the garbage disposal problem, two sites extending over 21 acres and 11 acres had been identified near Dhavani. Since one of them would be the property of the municipality, scientific methods of managing garbage could be introduced there.

Lamenting that the municipality was forced to shell out royalty for using lands and reservoirs, which came under the control of various Government Departments, Mr. Khan said that the civic administration was now in the process of `reclaiming' its properties, which were being used by others without any payment.

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