Major channels of the Cauvery in and around Srirangam turn to be a dumping yard for garbage and plastic waste all along the course, causing eye-sore to the citizens, apart from pilgrims and tourists visiting the city.
Environmentalists have been expressing their concern over the utter negligence on the part of both the Corporation and the local residents in protecting the waterbody.
A case in point is the channel in front of the Devi Theatre which poses a health hazard. Unlike other channels, a bird’s eye view of the entire channel (together with its huge deposit of garbage) can be had by every one reaching Srirangam by crossing the road bridge on the Gandhi Road.
Local residents in Srirangam say that the City Corporation should take a special plan for proper maintenance of the channel by periodically dredging it. K. Murugan, a differently-abled tailor of the area, says that foul smell emanating all around was a major health hazard.
The silt had got deposited to a deeper depth and it was high time that the City Corporation took some effort for immediate cleaning of the channel. As a temporary measure, mosquito problem should be controlled. K. Ramesh, a noted vidwan, said that the channel was more conveniently used for dumping hospital waste by a few private clinics.
K.C. Neelamegam, secretary of ‘Thanneer’, a non-governmental organisation, said that this was one of the major channels which should be properly maintained.
The organisation has been organising several campaign to sensitise the residents to their responsibility in protecting the water bodies and keep it free from any pollution.