Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Bids invited for garbage clearance

CHENNAI: The Ambattur Municipality has invited bids from private firms to clear garbage at its Athipattu dumping yard, which is running out of space.

A municipality official said that agencies had been asked to present proposals to clear the 1.5 lakh tonnes of garbage piled up at the dump yard. The agencies also needed to facilitate the development of the yard, spread over five acres, as a segregation and transit point.

About Rs.3 crore had been allocated for the project and the tender would be finalised in May. The scheme would be cleared through the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited, the official said.

On the other initiatives to tackle the problem of solid waste disposal, he said the 10-acre space allotted at Sekkadu dumping yard in Avadi was all set to become operational in a few days and used as landfill.

A meeting with Avadi municipal officials would be conducted soon to transport the garbage and set up a composting facility.

Another proposal to set up compost yard in Kuthambakkam village near Poonamallee was awaiting government clearance.

Residents of the village objected to the project coming up in their area.

The project envisages sharing of over 60 acres by the Municipality with three other local bodies of Thiruverkadu, Valasaravakkam and Maduravoyal.

Several residents complained that the performance of Swachatha Corporation, the private agency engaged in garbage clearance in 19 wards, was not up to the desired level. Residents of Mogappair and industrial unit owners at Ambattur Estate said garbage was collected once in two or three days. Waste piled up in the street corners awaited disposal for over a week and posed health hazards.

The residents pointed out that the delay was due to lack of vehicles to transport the waste.

Responding to complaints, the municipality official admitted that the local body received complaints against the firm about irregular garbage disposal.

Action was being taken on the complaints received and discussions were on to find a permanent solution.

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