CHENNAI: The Greater Chennai Corporation has deployed private contractors of solid waste management to handle sanitation inside the THUDHB tenements as part of a shift earlier this year, as the civic body is now managing upkeep in more than a lakh of tenements which were previously looked after by the housing board.

The approvals cover tenements across zones except for 4,5 and 6, together accounting for over 77,000 households. The work includes daily removal of garbage dumped behind apartment blocks, routine cleaning of parks, playgrounds, walkways and door to door waste collection.

According to the council, TNUHDB had earlier engaged private agencies through zone-wise contracts. However, councillors repeatedly flagged deficiencies in service at committee meetings citing irregular garbage clearance and poor upkeep of common areas. So, the SWM has been handed over to private contractors.

Monthly expenditure is Rs 60.06 lakh for tenements in zones 1, 2, 3 and 7, where services will be handled by Chennai Enviro Solutions. For zones 9, 10 and 13, its Rs 1.84 crore, and for zones 11, 12, 14 and 15, its Rs 66.51 lakh which will be managed by Sumeet Urban Services.