Tonnes of solid waste generated on Maha Deepam day removed during clean-up drive

Around 450 metric tonnes of garbage generated connected Maha Deepam time person been removed from Tiruvannamalai municipality during a two-day wide cleaning thrust by Tiruvannamalai Corporation, restoring cleanliness successful the temple town.

Officials of the Corporation said that a ample workforce of 2,300 sanitary staff, who are mostly women workers, were roped for the mammoth exercise, which was started connected Thursday, a time earlier Maha Deepam arsenic the municipality witnessed dependable travel of pilgrims. “Sanitary workers from extended areas of the Corporation were besides roped for the purpose. In the two-day drive, they collected astir 450 tonnes of wastes, which is the highest measurement generated connected Maha Deepam truthful far,” S. Selva Balaji, Commissioner, Tiruvannamalai Corporation, told The Hindu.

Apart from sanitary unit from Tiruvannamalai Corporation, civic workers from large municipalities similar Ambur, Arcot, Arani, Arakkonam, Polur, Vandavasi, Vaniyambadi and Gudiyatham were besides roped for the purpose. Along with Corporation Commissioner Mr. Balaji, Collector K. Tharpagaraj inspected the enactment and interacted with sanitary workers.

Corporation officials said that wastes generated this twelvemonth was highest arsenic against successful 2024 (350 metric tonnes) 2023 (210 metric tonnes) and 2022 (130 metric tonnes), owed to summation successful footfalls. Around 45 lakh devotees visited the municipality connected 2025 Maha Deepam day.

Among wastes generated, disposable nutrient plates signifier the bulk of wastes, followed by sugarcane and saccharine maize waste. District medication has allowed 250 individuals and organisations for anna danam (free food) that volition payment astatine slightest 30 lakh devotees connected Maha Deepam day. Also, galore volunteers and groups were besides provided escaped nutrient connected the day. 

Most of the collected wastes volition beryllium dumped astatine the 15 acre-landfill tract of the civic assemblage adjacent the Girivalam path. Food and different integrated wastes volition beryllium recycled to marque manure for farming and terrace gardens successful Tiruvannamalai.

Every day, connected an average, 50-60 metric tons of wastes are generated successful Tiruvannamalai town, which has implicit 1,400 streets successful its 39 wards.