MADURAI: Madurai Corporation has begun a regular mass cleaning programme focusing on one ward at a time in each of the four zones of the city to improve the cleanliness.
On Tuesday, which was the first day of the programme, S Alangulam, Thirupalai, Nelpettai and Melavasal wards were taken up for mass cleaning.
Corporation commissioner K P Karthikeyan said that 2,800 sanitation employees are involved in regular cleaning works in the morning. The mass cleaning works are planned in the afternoon by mobilizing all the men and machinery available in each zone in a single ward so that focused cleaning can be done.
“Domestic breeding checkers will be involved in dengue prevention works. The works will be monitored by zone assistant commissioners by personally visiting the particular ward,” he said. The commissioner said that he would be conducting surprise checks during the programme.
“Apart from garbage removal, focus will also be given in cleaning open channels and clogs in underground drainage systems. Issues such as street lights will also be resolved. Each ward has 200 to 250 streets on an average. A total of 1,150 sanitation employees and engineering wing officials and 135 vehicles were deployed for the work on the first day,” he said.
“Feedback on the works done in each ward would be received from the public. The respective zonal assistant commissioners will also evaluate them at the end of each day,” Karthikeyan said.
He added that the teams which do good work consistently will be recognized. The programmes are planned till August 15. “We are contemplating distribution of awards for the best teams on the occasion,” the commissioner said. Karthikeyan assured that most of the garbage will be removed during the mass cleaning days. If something is missed out they would be cleared subsequently.
Minister for finance P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan inaugurated the programme on Tuesday.
Madurai district collector Aneesh Sekhar and others took part.
