"This solid waste management programme is being launched to benefit 60 panchayats. It is part of the state-level programme to keep 2,000 panchayats clean in the first phase," District Rural Development Agency Project Officer M Prabakar told reporters.
The programme is to be implemented in 12,524 village panchayats in Tamil Nadu.
In the first phase, urban and rural towns, including tourists spots, heritage and holy sites, big industrial areas, bus stands and Railway station would be taken up.
Prabakar said 760 workers would be appointed in Virudhunagar district to collect garbage-- both the decaying and non decaying variety.
Each panchayat would be allotted Rs 35,000 to collect and process the garbage. Machinery for cutting plastic waste cleaning equipment had also been purchased, he said.