6 months ago
1
Residents of Gandhi Nagar 2nd Extension successful Chromepet, nether Tambaram City Corporation limits accidental their neighbourhood has efficaciously turned into an unfastened dump, with repeated accumulation of garbage, dormant rodents and discarded worldly on the main roadworthy posing superior nationalist wellness risks. The situation, they argue, points to a systemic nonaccomplishment successful monitoring and enforcement, contempt authoritative claims of improved coagulated discarded absorption nether the Swachh Bharat mission.
No sustained monitoring
Tambaram Corporation outsourced door-to-door garbage postulation crossed its 5 zones successful 2023, successful enactment with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, which mandate regular collection, segregation astatine root and prevention of unfastened dumping. However, residents accidental the crushed world successful Gandhi Nagar Extension tells a antithetic story.
Although conservancy unit wide the garbage periodically, discarded reappears wrong hours, spilling onto the roadworthy and obstructing access. The deficiency of sustained monitoring, residents allege, allows the aforesaid spot to beryllium repeatedly utilized arsenic a dumping ground.
Hard-hit area
Located connected the occidental broadside of GST Road, Gandhi Nagar Extension connects Nagalkeni and Pammal and lies adjacent to Thiruneermalai, a large spiritual destination. Despite being a premier residential locality, civic neglect has persisted for years, residents say.
“People from adjacent localities travel and dump garbage present due to the fact that they cognize determination is nary surveillance,” says Sivakumar, a resident. “Repeated complaints to halt this person yielded nary results.”
Dual role
Kanakaraj, different resident, points retired that the garbage heap forms astatine the entranceway to a playground utilized by children from economically weaker sections. “During the day, children inactive travel present to play. At night, the country becomes unsafe, with tipplers occupying the space. It turns into an unofficial barroom aft dark,” helium says.
Residents accidental respective radical successful the country person fallen sick recently, attributing it to unhygienic surroundings. The dumping of dormant rats and rodents overnight has worsened the situation, with residents complaining of a persistent stench that causes nausea and nonaccomplishment of appetite.
Violation of norms
Under the Solid Waste Management Rules, section bodies are required to forestall unfastened dumping, guarantee technological disposal of carnal discarded and support sanitation successful nationalist spaces. Residents reason that the continued beingness of dormant rodents connected the roadworthy is simply a wide usurpation of these norms and exposes gaps successful enforcement.
With nary progressive residents’ payment relation successful the area, locals accidental they are forced to trust solely connected civic officials and elected representatives to intervene.
‘Long-term solution’
When contacted, V. Karunanidhi, councillor of Ward 16 nether Tambaram Corporation, said a imperishable solution was being explored. “We volition analyse the feasibility of mounting up a greenish recomposite gait if the thoroughfare width permits,” helium said.
Surveillance sought
Residents person suggested installing covered, modern dustbins astatine strategical points arsenic an interim measure, citing erratic postulation timings that are often announced lone by a whistle from conservancy staff. However, galore fearfulness that without strict oversight, bins could overflow and worsen the problem.
They accidental installing CCTV cameras astatine susceptible points, intelligibly marking no-dumping zones, and imposing fines—as permitted nether civic bylaws—are indispensable to deter offenders. “Unless unfastened dumping is penalised and monitored, the occupation volition continue,” residents say.
Calling for a clear, time-bound discarded absorption plan, residents accidental restoring basal hygiene successful the locality should beryllium a priority, not an afterthought.
