Corporation refuses to clear garbage at CPWD quarters

CHENNAI: Residents at Central Public Works Department (CPWD) quarters have been living amid filth and garbage for more than a fortnight, as the Chennai corporation has not cleared bins on the premises, with waste piling near compactor bins turning an eyesore.
Occupants of Shastri Bhavan premises and CPWD quarters on Haddows Road have been notified as bulk waste generators (BWG) according to the civic body, and corporation officials claim to have washed their hands off conservancy operations due to lack of cooperation from the residents in segregating wet and dry waste.
A BWG consists of premises that have an average garbage generation rate of more than 100kg per day.
“I have been residing in this complex for the past three years. This is the first time the condition has turned so pathetic with garbage getting piled for weeks together. Earlier, the waste used to be removed every alternate day. This is the condition in this Central Government Officers complex where many high-level officers reside,” said a resident, requesting anonymity.
“For the past two weeks, we have been segregating our waste and handing it over to the staff. Now, we are putting out only dry waste,” said Mukesh, another resident. There are 40 residential units in the quarters.
Another resident said that despite the intervention of former and senior civil servants residing in the quarters, no action has been taken.
“There are two bins outside the CPWD quarters where roadside food vendors dump waste without segregating it. The corporation blames us for it and has stopped clearing the bins inside and outside the premises,” said a senior citizen.
An official from the CPWD premises said the non-clearance of garbage has been a lingering issue from April last.
“Though for the past two weeks we have implemented segregation and are handling the biodegradable waste, they still have not started clearing garbage. No one knows what the real issue is,” said the official.
Residents alleged that the contractor responsible for removing the garbage on behalf of the corporation is demanding Rs 8,000 for doing it, but officials from the Teynampet zone said despite numerous notices being served to the central government body, no action was taken to implement responsible segregation of garbage.
“We have given them demonstrations on how wet and garden waste should be handled using composting units and mulch pits. Dry, saleable waste can be given away to their workers. While inert non-biodegradable waste can be put in the bins, which the corporation will remove on Wednesdays,” said a corporation official, who added that the civic body was focusing on reducing waste generated in the city. “We have informed officials as well as the residents much earlier. Besides, a notice was issued on May 30 seeking their cooperation to dispose only segregated waste. We are seeking their compliance,” he added.
A senior corporation official said he will look into the issue.