Chennai deploys 600 workers and 350 vehicles for firecracker waste collection
The Greater Chennai Corporation has launched a citywide drive to ensure the safe disposal of debris generated during Deepavali celebrations.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has deployed 600 personnel and 350 vehicles to collect and dispose of firecracker waste across Chennai during Deepavali, according to reports from Business Standard and The New Indian Express on Sunday.
Under the direction of GCC Commissioner G S Sameeran, the Solid Waste Management Department is working to clear roads, public areas, and stormwater drains of debris. The civic body has provided conservancy workers with 30,000 special collection bags, each having a 50 kg capacity.
Residents and administrators of residential complexes identified as bulk waste generators have been asked to separate firecracker remains from regular biodegradable and non-biodegradable household garbage. These complexes are also advised to set up dedicated collection points on their premises.
The GCC has intensified cleaning efforts by using mechanical sweepers and overnight teams for mass cleaning operations after the festivities. Awareness campaigns are also being carried out via battery-operated vehicles and outreach in colleges, schools, and public spaces.
The civic body has issued safety guidelines, advising citizens to use only approved green crackers to reduce pollution. People are also urged to follow the state government's permitted time slots of 6 am to 7 am and 7 pm to 8 pm.
The corporation has advised against setting off series crackers or bursting them near schools, hospitals, courts, places of worship, huts, or electrical transformers. Residents have been told to use water immediately to extinguish any fires.