Massive clean-up drive tackles tonnes of waste generated on Maha Deepam day, inspiring community action

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Around 450 metric tonnes of garbage generated during Maha Deepam day have been cleared from Tiruvannamalai town as part of a two-day mass cleaning initiative led by the Tiruvannamalai Corporation. This extensive effort, which began on Thursday, involved a workforce of 2,300 sanitary staff, predominantly women, who were mobilized to manage the significant waste produced due to the influx of pilgrims. Commissioner S. Selva Balaji noted that this year’s waste collection was the highest recorded for Maha Deepam, surpassing previous years.

In addition to local sanitary workers, the Corporation enlisted civic workers from neighboring municipalities, including Ambur, Arcot, and others, to assist with the cleanup. The initiative was overseen by Commissioner Balaji and Collector K. Tharpagaraj, who engaged with the workers during the operation. The increase in waste this year can be attributed to the rise in visitors, with approximately 45 lakh devotees attending the festivities.

The waste collected primarily consisted of disposable food plates, along with sugarcane and sweet corn remnants. The district administration permitted 250 individuals and organizations to provide free meals, benefiting around 30 lakh devotees on Maha Deepam day. Most of the waste collected will be disposed of at a 15-acre landfill site, while organic waste will be recycled into manure for local farming and terrace gardens. On a typical day, Tiruvannamalai generates about 50-60 metric tonnes of waste across its 1,400 streets in 39 wards.