COIMBATORE: A Day after the fire in the Vellalore dump yard, the Corporation has decided to monitor the place using a drone, which will be bought under the Smart City project. This is the first time that a drone is being used in waste management in the State.
Apart from fires, the drone will monitor suspicious movements there and whether the contractor (Coimbatore Integrated Waste Management Company) is segregating the waste.
“To install CCTV cameras, we would have to spent crores of rupees. Even then, it would be difficult to monitor the entire yard spread across 650 acres. A drone would be cost effective and the yard can be monitored from the Corporation’s main office in Town Hall,” Corporation sources said.
“Drones will also be used to monitor other civic projects if necessary,” the sources added.
Earlier, the civic body had proposed to install 35 CCTV cameras in the yard to monitor it. There are no CCTV cameras in the yard now.
The fire, which broke out at the old dumping site inside the yard on Monday evening, was brought under control only around 12 noon on Tuesday.
“We have stationed a fire tender at the yard for use in emergencies. If a fire breaks out, it can be put out immediately. The Corporation has also stationed some vehicles there for use in case the fire re-ignites,” Coimbatore Fire Officer (in-charge) R Kumaresan said.
It was caused by excessive heat, said Commissioner K Vijayakarthiekyan.
MLA N Karthik (DMK) who visited the yard, criticised the Corporation for inaction.
“Nearly 50,000 tonnes of garbage has accumulated over a wide area. But the Corporation has failed to clear it. The stench and flies have made life difficult for the people living near it. Besides, chances of diseases spreading from the yard are high,” he said.