The big city clean-up: volunteers in demand

Each affected family is expected to have dumped 500 kg of garbage on the streets. Photo: R.Ragu

Chennai Corporation is set to use the services of 10,000 additional sanitary workers to clear one lakh tonnes of silt deposited in residential neighbourhoods by receding floodwaters. An open call has also been issued to volunteers.

“Each of the affected households has started dumping more than 500 kg of garbage on the streets, increasing public health risk. The damaged items may start clogging drains. We have planned to sanitise the entire city in two days. The 10,000 additional workers from other parts of the State will start work on Tuesday,” said a Corporation official.

Chennai Corporation also seeks volunteers to support the drive to clean 33,000 streets. Five hundred additional vehicles, including compactors and excavators, will be used for removing waste.

“Any group of volunteers with at least 100 members are welcome. But we cannot allow groups of school students to clean the city,” said Chennai Corporation Deputy Commissioner (Health) R. Kannan. Groups of volunteers are requested to call 9445190996.

Chennai Corporation collects 5,000 tonnes of waste on a daily basis, using the services of at least 16,000 workers. The waste is dumped in Kodungaiyur and Perungudi. Marooned residents of Kodungaiyur and Perungudi are facing public health risk due to an increase in garbage dumped in the area.

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