After Mahadeepam, more than 1,000 workers have disposed of 350 tons of garbage

Tiruvannamalai Collector D Bhaskar Pandian inspects garbage removal by sanitation workers in Tiruvannamalai on Sunday after Mahadeepam Divas celebrations.

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More than 1,000 sanitation workers were deployed on Sunday to remove around 350 tonnes of garbage from the Mahadeepam on the tenth day of the Kartigai Deepam in Thiruvannamalai city.

Tiruvannamalai Corporation officials said around 1,100 sanitation workers, mostly women workers, had been roped in for the massive exercise that began on Thursday, a day before Mahadeepam as the city witnessed a steady flow of pilgrims.

“The cleaners worked round the clock in three shifts to clean the city. About 350 tonnes of waste was generated in Mahadeepam this year,” Thiruvannamalai Corporation Commissioner M. Gandhiraj told The Hindu.

Apart from Tiruvannamalai Corporation’s sanitation staff, civic staff from major municipalities like Ambur, Arcot, Arani, Arakkonam, Polur, Vandavasi, Vaniyambadi and Gudiatham were also roped in for the purpose. More than 90 garbage collection vehicles have been mobilized. Collector D. Thiruvannam along with Mr. Gandhiraj. Bhaskar Pandian supervised the garbage removal on Sunday.

The remaining 150 tonnes of waste is in the process of being removed by the city’s sanitation staff, said the corporation official. This year compared to 2023 (210 tons) and 2022 (130 tons), the highest amount of garbage has been measured on this day, due to increased foot traffic – about 40-45 million pilgrims visited the city.

Of the waste produced, disposable food plates make up the majority, followed by sugarcane and sweet corn waste. The district administration had given permission to give food donations to 234 individuals and organizations. Many volunteers and groups also provided free food that day.

Most of the waste collected is dumped at a 15-acre landfill site near Girivalam Marg. Food waste is recycled to produce organic fertilizers for agriculture.

Most of the waste collected will be dumped at the civic body’s 15-acre landfill site near Girivalam Marg. Food and other organic waste will be recycled to make fertilizer for farms and terrace gardens in Tiruvannamalai.

There are more than 1,200 roads in 39 wards and an average of 65-70 tons of waste is generated daily. Out of the total 14.2 km, 6.2 km of Girivalam road falls under the civic body’s limits while the rest of the road falls under the village panchayat.