[Progniusis]

Chennai Corporation has decided to procure 1,200 stainless steel bins and 75 heavy compactor vehicles to intensify garbage collection in greater Chennai.

The corporation had also floated tenders to acquire 480 tricycles. The tenders are at the evaluation stage and the procurement will be completed in about a month.

The corporation is all set to add about 170 vehicles to its network, said city corporation superintending engineer Premnath, who heads the solid waste management department. As many as 27 (bob cat) loading machines, 11 earthmovers and 45 light motor vehicles will be procured, he said.

The civic body has also created a unique route map for each ward that will be used by the compactor vehicles and tricycles to cover all the interior and main roads, said city corporation superintending engineer Premnath, who heads the solid waste management department.

The corporation would take a loan of Rs.54 crore from the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation at a low interest rate to supplement the state government's financial aid and the corporation's capital revenue, he said.

The decision to procure stainless steel bins has been taken as plastic bins do not last long and are fragile. ] These bins will be well maintained to mitigate stench and will allso have lids, which will check rag pickers from collecting bottles and plastic from waste and dumping the remnants on the streets, the official said.

The city corpo ration is now collecting close to about 4,500 tonnes of waste with the help of about 9,000 conservancy workers, he said.

-dc chn