Coimbatore: Coimbatore city municipal corporation MDMK councillor Chithra Vellingiri has objected to the use of whistles during the routine door-to-door waste collection drives, citing the model code of conduct (MCC). On Saturday, she wrote to the election commission, district collector and the corporation commissioner seeking a ban on whistles and asking that they be replaced with speakers. In her letter, she argued that the whistle is an approved election symbol of a political party, and its use by civic body during waste collection would be inappropriate during the election period.Speaking to TOI Chithra said, “Despite having speakers for announcing waste collection, some workers deliberately blow whistles across various wards including my ward 26. It was not the usual whistle sound, and they kept blowing it for over 2 minutes. Use of political party symbols in govt sectors when the MCC is in place, is like facilitating free advertisements”She added that many have raised questions over cycling as the cycle is also an approved symbol. However, in such scenarios, it is used by private individuals. Government sectors should avoid such usage at least until elections are over, she said, justifying her demand. She also said it is high time the corporation upgrades itself to a better waste management structure including an announcement system. “The replacement is possible and can be carried out for the long term. This demand for ban on whistles is not limited to Coimbatore but should be implemented across all local bodies.”
