Spraying microbe solution at Vellalore garbage
Mayor R. Venkatachalam (third right), Deputy Mayor N. Karthik (fourth right) and Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran (right) inspecting the spraying of effective microbe solution on garbage at the civic body’s compost yard at Vellalore near the city on Sunday.(left) Garbage being levelled at the yard.A dozen bulldozers are on the job of levelling huge heaps of garbage spread over 150 acres of the Coimbatore Corporation’s compost yard at Vellalore, about 10 km south of the city. This exercise is expected to provide a temporary respite for residents in nearby colonies from the flies that feast on garbage and enter their homes.With the protest from the residents’ group, Kurichi-Vellalore Pollution Prevention Action Committee, getting more vociferous by the day, the Corporation has begun efforts to prevent garbage heaps from burning or attracting flies. Already, the spraying of effective microbe solution is on by Siruthuli, a voluntary organisation, to keep flies away from the yard.“This is only a temporary solution. We will level the heaps till the Rs. 96-crore solid waste management scheme begins,” says Corporation Commissioner P. Muthuveeran. Standing on a recently flattened heap at the yard, he told presspersons on Sunday that whatever garbage was levelled and mixed with earth in the process now would be scooped out and disposed of more scientifically through the landfill method.
Mr. Muthuveeran said compacting machines could reduce garbage heaps of six to seven feet in height to just two feet. “This process will go on for three months. After that, the new scheme will provide a permanent solution.” Mayor R. Venkatachalam said: “We are keen on providing a lasting solution to this problem. We do realise the kind of plight the people living around the yard are undergoing. But, we assure them that a solution will be found.”The Mayor pointed out that accumulated heaps generate a lot of heat within and this could be one of the reasons for the fire. The Commissioner said the Corporation had engaged 20 persons to spray the solution. An Assistant Commissioner, an Executive Engineer, an Assistant Executive Engineer, a Sanitary Inspector and two supervisors were monitoring the work. Three fire tenders were stationed at the yard to put out fire in the dumps.
Referring to the demand from the residents that the yard be shifted, the Mayor said this was the best place the Corporation had to carry out waste disposal. The total space for the garbage yard and sewage farm was 600 acres. Out of this, garbage was dumped on 150 acres. “There is no such land available within the city,” the Mayor said, pointing at the need to go ahead with using the present yard for the new scheme.Seeking to allay fears of pollution, the Commissioner said the landfill on 15 acres would have a lawn on top of the buried non-biodegradable waste.
