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Workers on corona duty, waste segregation takes a hit
The pandemic has reduced garbage generation in the city, but it has also hit segregation and processing of garbage. The Greater Chennai Corporation collected an average of 3,622 tonnes garbage a day from April 1 to April 15. But only 163 tonnes of wet waste and 128 tonnes of dry waste had been segregated every day.
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Among the 15 zones, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Adyar, Perungudi and Sholinganallur could not segregate waste during this period. Of them, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Anna Nagar and Kodambakkam zones have reported 33, 24 and 26 positive cases as on Friday. In contrast, Royapuram that has the highest number of positive cases (73) segregated 32.49 tonnes of wet waste and 16.78 tonnes of dry waste every day.
Earlier, the civic body was segregating and recycling around 600 tonnes of garbage a day, including 400 tonnes wet waste. When asked, a Corporation official said that the conservancy workers employed in material and resource recovery centres where the waste is segregated have been deployed for COVID-19 control measures. “Due to this, we have closed several recycling centres. The situation will normalise once the city comes out from the pandemic,” the official added.
On an average, Corporation used to collect around 5,100 tonnes of waste a day before lockdown. Meanwhile, it has started collecting used masks and gloves from the quarantined houses and houses in containment areas separately. These would be disposed of like biomedical waste, said officials, adding that yellow bags have been provided to the residents for this.
Online system for essential items passes introduced
The city Corporation introduced an online approval system for issuing essential commodities passes on Saturday. The organisations and staff may visit www.covid19.chennaicorporation.gov.in to apply for the essential commodities pass. “The applicants should send GST registration certificates, employee identity cards, vehicle registration details and the bonafide letters attested by the representatives of employers while applying. Applications can only be sent between 8 am to 11 am and 3 pm to 5 pm every day,” it said in a statement. This was done to prevent people from visiting Corporations office for the passes. Applicants can download their QR code embedded passes from the website. As on Saturday, 652 companies have been issued passes.
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