Residents of Vellalore near Podanur numbering around 50 along with activists of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) led by State Youth Wing Secretary V. Easwaran were removed by the police when they attempted to picket the Corporation main office in Town Hall area demanding a solution to the problems posed by the Corporation’s dump yard in the locality.
The issue of opposition to the dump yard had been brewing for many years and in the recent times, there is an intensified struggle with the Committee against dump yard taking up the issue.
Residents are sore over the impact of the dump yard on their health because of the air pollution and water contamination caused by the waste dumped there.
They have also been complaining about the menace caused by the flies.
On August 11, a group of people began a fast demanding that the dump yard be shifted and the police removed them and later released them. Of the released activists, four led by Daniel once again commenced a fast and were removed on Thursday. On Friday, two more people were continuing with the fast.
Solution
Meanwhile, demanding a solution to the problem, the activists thronged the Corporation office seeking an audience with the Corporation Commissioner.
Stating that the Commissioner was not available in the office, the police prevented them and removed them.
Meanwhile, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko in a statement issued here, urged the State Government and the civic body to take into account the set back caused by the dump yard spread over in 300 acres wherein 800 tonnes was being dumped.
There had been 40 incidents of fire and the resultant smoke had affected the 70,000 residents living in various colonies near the dump yard.
The location of the dump yard was not in accordance with the norms that had been laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), he said, and urged the authorities to hold talks with the residents and hammer out a solution to the problem.
