Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Mounting garbage: problem persists

S. Ramesh

Civic body indifferent; solid waste management a non-starter

PERILOUS APATHY: Sewers in the Thirumanimutharu river in Salem remain unattended to for months. - Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Even as residents in the city are grappling with the ever-growing garbage problem, the city managers remain indifferent to the issue.

Despite the Apex Court's guidelines, the execution of the Solid Waste Management Programme (SWMP) cannot be implemented in `letter and spirit'.

Modern dumpyard

According to the Corporation Budget 2005-06, the civic administration should have implemented the SWMP before July 31, 2005.

The Budget report pointed out that the Corporation had the responsibility of establishing a modern dumpyard to dispose of its waste using scientific methods within the specified date. But the programme remains a non-starter.

The civic administration did prepare project reports for the SWMP at an approximate cost of Rs. 10.79 crores. None of these projects took off in a full-fledged manner.

As part of the SWMP, it has even prepared a project to improve infrastructure facilities in the existing dumpyards and convert them into transfer stations.

That too has failed to materialise following the lack of efforts from the Corporation.

SHGs roped in

The civic body has even outsourced the services of the self-help groups (SHG) for primary collection. It has involved the members in door-to-door waste collection in a few parts on a trial basis.

As the civic administration lacks a modern compost yard, the segregated waste collected by the SHGs is again dumped in the existing yards. "This defeats the very purpose of primary collection," councillors say.

Meanwhile, the shortage of sanitary workers has affected collection, and mounting garbage has left city streets stinking.

The existing dumpyards in Kitchipalayam, Sooramangalam and Veeranam have very little space for the garbage disposal vehicles to enter. The civic officials continue to dump 325 tonnes of waste generated in the city every day in these yards.

Following public outcry, the Salem Corporation found an alternative dumpsite at Mallamoopanpatti. But it could not take over the site following the stiff opposition from villagers nearby.

Business plan

Recently, the Corporation included the SWMP in its business plan and planned to conduct a micro-level study though a consultant to prepare a detailed project report for SWMP.

When other Corporations and even the nearby Namakkal municipality with its few wards, can be successful with the SWMP, the failure of Salem Corporation on this front remains a mystery, point out residents.

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