Public push credited for 'clean city' stamp on Trichy

The credit for Trichy being declared second cleanest city in the country should go to the initiatives started by the residents two decades ago, say environmentalists and activists.

"It was the public movement which sowed the seeds of waste segregation at source among residents over two decades ago when there were no sanitary workers at all," said H Ghouse Baig from the Consumer Protection Council.

"Civic Exnora was formed in about 65 places with the participation of local residents in the city then. Four sanitary workers were appointed to collect waste from every home," said C Balasubramanian, district president of Exnora, an environmental and civic movement.

Salary for workers was given after collecting it from local residents. "Going a step ahead, we had also recycled the organic waste generated," he added.

However, the work was taken over by the civic body after came into existence and restricted our activities to few places in the city, he said. Later, a lot of projects were introduced by the city corporation for managing waste in the city. "In that way we were pioneers in the managements of waste in the city," Balasubramanian said.

He said number of sanitary workers and vehicles should be increased to collect waste in the city. "It is indeed doubtful whether Trichy could have reached second position if the dumping yard in Ariyamangalam and suffering of people in its surrounding areas were considered."

Steps have to be initiated by the administration to replace the existing underground drainage channels, established in 1970's in the city, which have developed leakage at several places.

Similarly, Thaneer Iyakkam, a voluntary organization, was instrumental in prompting the administration to take steps to clean up 1,000-year-old Uyyakondan canal. The irrigation canal is reeling under severe pollution over draining of sewage by residents in close vicinity.

Secretary of Thaneer Iyakkam K C Neelamegam said, "Several campaigns were held with the participation of school and college students after forming Uyyakondan Protection Committee to create awareness among the public. The state government has to come forward to clean up the canal."

"We can only consider ourselves best among the worst as the city has to go a long way in terms of basic amenities. The city has now got the name but there is a need to strive hard to maintain it," said Ghouse Baig.

While saying that there has not been any official confirmation on the ranking obtained by the city, mayor A Jaya said the credit goes to the impressive work in the areas of waste management, controlling open defecation and less death due to water-borne diseases.

When asked on the incomplete UGD work, she said the first phase has only been completed in laying UGD lines in the city and the work is underway to fully connect to the UGD.