COIMBATORE: Conservancy workers of the Coimbatore Corporation have a key role to play in the civic body’s efforts to create a garbage-free city and the public should also co-operate with them, Mayor R. Venkatachalam said on Friday.

Success

The success of a solid waste management scheme depended largely on the co-operation of both the conservancy workers and the general public, the Mayor said after giving away protective gear such as masks and gloves to the workers.

Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik, South Zone Chairman P. Pynthamil, Health Committee Chairman P. Nachimuthu, Assistant City Health Officer R. Sumathi, councillors and officials were present.

The Corporation was implementing one at Rs.96 crore and segregation of waste at source and door-to-door collection were the key components of the scheme that needed the support of both the workers and the people.

Scheme

“The Corporation or the Government may come out with a massive scheme and provide enough funds. There may be enough rules to help the Corporation enforce cleanliness. But, ultimately, the drive can be successful only with the support of these two sections, especially with initiative from the workers,” he said.

“The Corporation holds the workers in high esteem. Their contribution to a clean city will be vital. The civic body is conducting health camps for the workers because they must stay healthy for the benefit of the entire city,” the Mayor said.

Apart from warding off infection, the masks provided to the workers would help avoid inhaling the stench from drainage or garbage dumps. “Many workers consumed alcohol by claiming that it helped them in dealing with the stench. The masks will be of help in this regard,” the Mayor pointed out.

The Corporation had now provided the workers with reflector jackets so that they were visible to vehicle users at night.

“We are planning garbage removal at night also. The jackets will help avoid the risk of getting hit by vehicles at night or early morning when visibility may be low,” he said.

The Mayor called upon the public to co-operate with the workers when they came for door-to-door collection of waste.

“People should hand over the waste to the workers and now throw it into the storm water drains or along roads.”

The Mayor admitted that skirmishes occurred often between the workers and the public over such unsafe disposal of waste.

The workers also must have healthy interaction with the people and enable the latter understand the need for segregation of waste and safe disposal.

Plans

“We will draw up plans for awareness drives in residential colonies so that the city is clean before the World Classical Tamil Conference,” he said.

Assistant City Health Officer R. Sumathi said that totally 2,647 conservancy workers had been provided with the protective gear (masks, reflector jackets, gloves and boots).

As for the 417 workers engaged on contract by the Corporation to step up conservancy operations, they would be provided with the gear by their contractor.

Courtesy - Hindu This was a condition in the tender and the Corporation had insisted that no worker should come to the field without the uniform and protective gear.