Coimbatore is grappling with a severe sanitation crisis as the city faces a shortage of sanitary workers, leading to delayed waste clearance and clogged drains. Councillors have highlighted that the inadequate workforce is hampering essential tasks such as debris removal and drain desilting.
Summer Showers Raise Concerns
With the onset of summer showers, councillors have urged the Coimbatore Corporation to take immediate steps to address the issue and prevent waterlogging and flooding on roads. Chithra Vellingiri, councillor from ward 26, pointed out that many workers have retired over time and have not been replaced. 'In my ward, there are only four sanitary workers, which is insufficient to meet the ward's requirements. Without an adequate workforce, maintaining proper sanitation is impossible,' she said.
Desilting and Waste Collection Issues
Vellingiri also noted that even when drains are desilted, the silt is not disposed of in a timely manner, often ending up back in the drains. Regarding waste collection, she observed that wet waste is cleared promptly, but dry waste accumulates for over three days. 'This issue needs immediate attention,' she added.
R Boopathy, councillor from ward 24, reported that half of his ward lacks an underground drainage system. 'Typically, an estimate is prepared for canal desilting before the monsoon. However, many drains, such as the S Bend on Thaneerpandal Road, require reconstruction. Although the corporation has prepared a detailed report for all 100 wards, the estimated cost is too high to implement at once. Therefore, the corporation should prioritize drain reconstruction in wards without underground drainage,' he said.
Demand for More Sanitary Workers
Boopathy also emphasized the need for adequate manpower. 'A minimum of ten sanitary workers per ward is required for waste clearance. However, some wards have fewer than five sanitary workers,' he stated. Councillors have called on the corporation to allocate sufficient workers and expedite infrastructure improvements to mitigate the sanitation crisis before the monsoon season.
