GPS Installed in Garbage Trucks to Monitor Movement

Quick Summary

• Tiruvannamalai Corporation has introduced GPS tracking systems in its fleet of 110 garbage vehicles.
• Goal: Monitor door-to-door waste collection and reintroduce source segregation of household garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable categories.
• GPS ensures routes and timing efficiency for sanitary workers while reducing accidental fires at landfill sites caused by unsegregated waste accumulation.
• Daily waste generation in Tiruvannamalai averages 65-70 metric tonnes. Each ward has approximately 400 households generating around 300 kg of waste daily.
• The project, currently targeting core areas such as Arunachaleswara temple and Girivalam path, will eventually scale to other areas as the Corporation’s jurisdiction expands post-merging villages in January 2025.
• The town employs about 350 sanitary workers, with over 60% being women. Civic officials are informed of delays or deviations through real-time alerts via GPS tracking.

Image: Collector K. Tharpagaraj inspecting cleaning work by civic workers using garbage vehicles equipped with GPS technology.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The introduction of GPS-enabled garbage vehicles marks a promising step toward addressing long-standing challenges around efficient waste management in Tiruvannamalai. By reviving source segregation practices halted during the pandemic, the Municipality aligns itself with enduring sanitation standards that benefit both environmental health and community welfare.

This initiative holds significant implications for urban cleanliness and public health, especially given the consistent expansion of municipal limits since becoming a Corporation. Monitoring vehicle movement not only optimizes collection processes but also enhances clarity-a key factor to maintain accountability among civic staff.

Scaling this program beyond core areas could serve as a model for other towns across India grappling with similar issues regarding unsegregated landfill sites prone to fires or contamination risks. Its success relies heavily on public cooperation for segregation at source, underscoring the need for awareness campaigns alongside technological inputs to sustain meaningful change.

For more details, read The Hindu.