North Chennai all for garbage collection by private agency

CHENNAI: Residents of North Chennai’s Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Royapuram zones supported the city corporation’s move to privatise garbage collection in their neighbourhoods at a stake-holders meeting held on Friday.
However, some of the workers’ union members opposed it saying their jobs will be at stake.
C Raghukumar, convenor of Perambur Neighbourhood Development Forum, who attended the meeting, said 90% of those who participated in the meeting were from workers unions. “The meeting turned into a forum for workers unions to vent their anger and frustration, and stall the privatisation of solid waste management services. In other parts of the city, privatisation had brought in positive changes in conservancy operations and cleanliness. Private companies are doing better than the corporation in terms of equipment, monitoring, supervision and a younger work force,” he said.
Competition was needed to provide efficient solid waste management services, said Raghukumar. “We need a long-term solution for garbage menace in our areas where bins are overflowing and placed near important locations like bus stands, schools and places of worship. Secondly, people dump debris there too,” he said.
T E Goverdhan of Perambur, which falls under Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, said residents from different income groups in zones serviced by private players report less disparity in services provided. “The productive efficiency of the private players might be better. However the financial viability of their operations needs to be examined,” he said.
Greater Chennai Corporation chief engineer for solid waste management N Mahesan said workers will not lose their jobs. All the temporary workers too will be roped in by the private contractors. “The next is the draft project report stage, followed by tenders and finalisation of work. It should take a few more months,” he said.