Coimbatore's Waste Collection Drive Gathers 85.3 Tonnes for Clean Bhogi
The Coimbatore Corporation launched a four-day mass waste collection drive on Saturday. It aimed to ensure a smoke-free Bhogi festival on Wednesday. The drive collected nearly 85.3 metric tonnes of dry waste.
Exceeding Targets and Extending Efforts
Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran stated the corporation targeted over 60 metric tonnes before Bhogi. They achieved above this target. The state government announced similar drives in other districts for two days on January 10 and 11.
The commissioner explained the drive was announced in the city from January 10 to 13. However, they extended it until Wednesday. This extension facilitated people returning from other cities to dispose of old household commodities.
Residents can reach out to contact numbers provided for their respective zones for waste disposal.
Detailed Collection Figures
On the first day, more than 26 metric tonnes of waste were collected. In the subsequent three days, old sofa sets alone contributed to over 43 metric tonnes.
A sanitation inspector from the corporation noted no mass dry waste collections occurred in previous years. Therefore, frequent announcements were made to the public about the drive. They urged people to avoid burning waste.
Environmentalist Applauds Green Bhogi Initiative
Environmentalist S Bharathidasan welcomed the state government's initiative towards Green Bhogi. He said the tradition of burning waste has become hazardous due to materials used in households.
Earlier, only natural waste was burnt. Nowadays, people burn tyres, plastic, rubber materials, and other items that emit carbon dioxide.
Bharathidasan emphasized Green Bhogi should be ensured not only for human benefit but for every life on earth. He urged the government to restrict polythene as packaging material. Polythene is a major contributor to dry waste.
