Chennai, Sep 17 (NationPress) The Hosur City Municipal Corporation (HCMC), located in the Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu, has initiated a significant effort to convert garbage dumping locations throughout the city into clean and green spaces. This move aims not only to enhance urban aesthetics but also to fortify solid waste management practices.

HCMC has pinpointed over 500 Garbage Vulnerable Points (GVPs) across its 45 wards, despite having a system of door-to-door waste collection facilitated by conservancy workers.

Officials noted that a segment of the community continues to dispose of waste in public areas and street corners, leading the municipal body to initiate a beautification program.

Commissioner Mohammad Shabbir Alam launched the project last week, selecting 50 of the identified GVPs for transformation into landscaped zones.

To date, 10 of these areas have been developed at a cost of Rs 10,000 each, replacing garbage piles with greenery.

Residents and conservancy personnel are encouraged to water and care for the plants in their localities. The entire initiative is projected to cost Rs 5 lakh for the 50 sites.

“Residents have been expressly instructed against littering, burning, or burying waste in open spaces. According to the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies (TNULB) Rules, 2023, strict penalties will be imposed on offenders,” stated a source from the corporation.

Community members can report waste violations or issues with garbage collection through helplines 1800 599 0447 and 90422 98901.

Currently, there are 587 conservancy workers engaged in door-to-door garbage collection within HCMC limits. While many residents are compliant, officials have acknowledged that some areas still see resistance to proper waste disposal.

A survey is currently being conducted to identify these areas, after which a comprehensive action plan will be put into place to ensure full compliance.

Resident welfare associations have also been tasked with motivating their members to support the municipal efforts.

The results of the initiative are already becoming evident in various locations, with one traffic police officer near RC Church noting that a former dumping ground has been transformed into a small garden.

“Previously, it was overwhelmed with garbage and construction waste. Now, the area is clean and safer for pedestrians, especially at night,” he remarked.

Through the conversion of these dumping sites into green areas, HCMC aspires not only to beautify Hosur but also to foster a sense of civic duty among its residents.