Councillors of all parties find fault with garbage disposal

‘Waste is burnt on the roadsides. Irregular collection has led to accumulation of garbage in many places, even in front of the Revenue Divisional Office itself’

Finding fault with garbage collection in Dindigul, councillors cutting across party lines raised the issue at the council meeting on Monday.

Mayor J. Ilamathi, Deputy Mayor S. Rajappa and Corporation Commissioner S. Sivasubramanian were present at the meeting.

CPI(M) councillor S. Ganesan said there was utter disregard for proper solid waste management procedures. “Waste is burnt on the roadsides. Irregular collection has led to accumulation of garbage in many places, even in front of the Revenue Divisional Office itself,” he said. He called for proper segregation of waste, regular inspection of the 48 wards and seizure of banned plastics from shops.

BJP Councillor G. Dhanapal said common waste segregation centres could be set up every five to 10 wards, instead of one for each ward. Mr. Ganesan also called for ironing out the kinks in laying drainage system in the wards. CPI(M) councillor S. Jyoti Basu challenged the Commissioner to walk through the Othakkunn railway underpass where thousands of people wade through stagnated sewage.

DMK Councillor C. Janakiraman said even those councillors who used to sit silent were fuming now, which indicated maladministration.

Mr. Basu said the Commissioner was acting against the government to bring a disrepute to the governance. “Even if the Mayor and Deputy Mayor agree to many developmental works, the Commissioner acts as a hindrance in realising the projects,” he said.

Stating how the Commissioner cited a Government Order which read that the salary of field workers would be cut if they were found being ineffective, Mr Basu said the same yardstick must be applied to lethargic officials.