Swachh Survekshan 2019 | Tiruchi’s Score card: 3,414 out of 5,000

The relegation of Tiruchi to a distant 39th position out of 4,237 cities across the country in the clean city ranking (Swachh Surverkshan 2019) has come a shock to its residents.

It came as a pleasant surprise to many residents when it was adjudged as the second cleanest city in the country when the concept was introduced in 2015. It became the talk of the town right from morning walkers to office goers and load men to construction workers. Many expressed happiness over the clean city tag. But there were some who pondered over the criteria or parameters on selection procedures.

The performance of Tiruchi was not on increasing trend since 2016. The city, which was rated third in 2016, was pushed to 13th position in 2018. It has now finished the race with 39th rank.

Although Tiruchi Corporation made various efforts to boost its image by roping in important citizens of the city in 2017 and 2018, it could not improve its position.

Efforts for decentralised disposal of domestic waste by establishing micro compost yards at various places, eradication of dustbins, collection and transportation of waste from houses to micro compost yards, segregation of waste at source, opening of road side gyms and inauguration of parks at different places did not appear to have attracted the attention of teams sent by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to Tiruchi for spot survey and direct observation.

Tiruchi scored 3,414 out of 5,000 marks in Swachh Survekshan 2019. It scored poor marks in certification and documentation and service-level progress category.

A cross-section of people say garbage collection, solid waste management, underground drainage system, road and street cleaning are relatively better in areas such as Cantonment, Thillai Nagar, Srirangam and Annamalai Nagar. There has been remarkable improvement in maintenance of Central Bus Stand and Chathiram Bus Stand.

But areas such as Woraiyur, Chinthamani, Devathanam, East Boulevard Road, Palakarai and Edatheru are considered as under performing on several aspects of solid waste management.

More attention on solid waste management should be made in Melaputhur, Sangiliyandapuram, Gandhi Market, Kattur, Edamalaipatti Puthur, Periya Milaguparai and Karumandapam. There are reports that open defecation is still prevalent in some parts of Woraiyur, Kondayampettai, Thiruvalarcholai, Krishnamurthy Nagar and others.

“If we lose one or two ranks in the list, it is understandable. But we have lost 26 positions. It is a wake-up call. We must acknowledge that we are lacking behind on many aspects of civic management,” says Ghouse Baig, a civic activist.

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