GHMC to launch special drive to collect scrap

Hyderabad: GHMC sanitation wing isorganisinga special drive to collect scrap and disposable waste zone-wise from residences in the city.It is proposed that the drive shall be conducted from November 3 to November 17.

This comes in the wake of a directive by Municipal Administration & Urban DevelopmentMinister KTaraka Rama Rao to the GHMC to conduct a 10-day special drive toto organise collection of scrap and disposable items likebroken furniture, mattresses, electronics, and etc, from the residents.

This drive is intended to prevent dumping of unwanted disposable material into the drains by the public, causing serious challenges to desilting of drains and resulting in inundation of low-lying areas due to clogging of main drains. In the recent drive conducted by GHMC in nalas, parks and empty lands, nearly 150 metric tons of unwanted material is collected.

The Minister suggested that a venue be decided keeping in view local requirements and efforts be made to rope in self-help groups (SHG) and NGOs to facilitate collection of these items from the public.Wide publicity should be given at zonal level through all types of media, public announcement, beat of drum and through local representatives as well as the sanitation staff, said the Minister.

All the Zonal Commissioners are to personallyprepare plans, monitor and submit reports on daily basis.The Minister said he would assess the success of this programme by conducting a review after completion of the drive.

It may be recalled that already, the Swachhata Hi Seva 2019, a janandolan for Swachhata, is being organised from September 11. This year's campaign is focused on plastic waste management, given the detrimental effect of uncollected plastic waste on human beings, animals and the environment at large.

During the period from October 3 to October 27, the plastic waste will be effectively collected, recycled and disposed of. All central and state governments are being encouraged to ban the use of Single Use Plastic (SUP) products during the campaign period.

Earlier, a special drive was conducted by the corporation to collect the plastic material, wherein nearly 150 metric tonnes plastic waste material was collected. This showed some impact, by reducing stagnation of water on roads due to recent heavy rains and the water receded in due course without much clogging with plastic materials, GHMC claimed.

To sensitise the people on the proposed special drive, the GHMC is involving voluntary organisations, residential welfare societies, SHGs etc. Commissioner Lokesh Kumar has instructed the Zonal Commissioners to personally supervise the drive and ensure its success. He also appealed all the citizens to keep ready with the waste material and hand over them to the GHMC teams, and help in keeping the city clean.