Change for good
Chennai: By the end of the 40-day ‘Kuppai Pirippom–Naalai Kaapom’ (Segregate Garbage, Save Tomorrow) campaign, more households in the city are segregating their waste, said GCC officials. Regional deputy commissioner Aftab Rasool said the campaign had led to visible improvement, with compliance increasing across the five zones—Valasaravakkam (zone 11), Alandur (zone 12), Adyar (zone 13), Perungudi (zone 14), and Sholinganallur (zone 15). A total of 45,000 dry waste bags have been distributed, and 51,436 stickers have been pasted in front of homes. The number of households segregating waste increased from 3,887 when the campaign began to 6,914 as of Sept 28, according to data shared by the private agency engaged by GCC. Adyar recorded the biggest increase in the number of households segregating waste, rising from 1,980 to 3,400. Alandur saw an increase from 602 to 1,100, while Perungudi went up from 560 to 1,000. Sholinganallur increased from 450 to 789 and Valasaravakkam from 343 to 625.
The campaign was launched as a pilot in five southern GCC zones to create awareness through door-to-door outreach.
We repeatedly explained the campaign to them and made them understand,” said an official of Sumeet Elko, the private solid waste management agency. The official said segregation had gradually become a routine for several households. L J Singaravelan, president of Adyar Kasturba Nagar-South Residents’ Welfare Association, said residents segregate waste as a habit and that waste is regularly collected. Though there has been progress, it is not enough, said Sholinganallur MLA P Saravanan. “We need to create more awareness on social media,” he said.