Residents of localities near the Coimbatore Corporation’s waste management facility in Vellalore observed a fast on Sunday, demanding that the civic body shift the dump yard out of Vellalore. Coming under the ‘Vellalore Kuppaikidangu Ethirppu Kuzhu’, the residents staged the protest from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Waste segregation
According to R. Selvaraj, president of the residents’ organisation, the Coimbatore Corporation claims that it has spent money to establish a waste processing facility but it appears that the civic body has done nothing much. It does not send segregated waste, as mandated by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
This is not the only violation, though.
Mr. Selvaraj also says that because of the dumping of waste without segregation, the ground water in localities near the Vellalore facility has turned yellow and comes with a foul odour. Not only that, frequent fire and smoke at the site drive away the residents of Shriram Nagar, Anbu Nagar, Podanur, Mahalingapuram, Konavaikalpalayam to other areas. During monsoon, the odour from the dumped waste is unbearable and so is the fly menace. Residents cannot have one square meal a day in the absence of flies. And they are forced to keep their doors closed most of the time.
This has been the residents’ plight for long and their representations to various authorities have not evoked the desired results. Left with little choice, the residents are forced to stage the fast, he says and adds that the protests will only intensify in the coming days.
