Heaps of garbage and civic waste dotting the Thanjavur-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai Highway margins are turning an eye sore to the discerning public. While the local body authorities claim that they are clearing the waste dumps daily, rapid urbanisation and burgeoning population that prefer creating living spaces along the roadways mar the stretches with all types of wastes.
The Thanjavur-Kumbakonam-Mayiladuthurai highway stretch is a usually busy section with even heavy vehicles plying round-the-clock. This stretch is the link to destinations in Chennai and Puducherry areas, while numerous villages steeped in historic, legendary and literary importance are situated along the route.
In the recent years, industrial activity have further accentuated heavy vehicle traffic.
Urbanisation brought with it increased population-based pressure on the already-stressed civic bodies. People living along the roadsides dump civic waste in their neighbourhood and leave that to be addressed by the local bodies.
A variety of waste and refuse ranging from civic refuse, domestic waste, rubbish from demolished buildings, building materials such as sand, blue metal and bricks, bio waste such as coconut shells, old articles rendered disuse and the like are dumped along the highway.
Dismantled flag mast bases, dry coconut fond and thatches are found strewn on the roadside in practically every village, adding to the grim.
But the worst danger emanates from the mounds of bio degradable waste such as plastic carry bags in all hues. That is closely followed by the advertisement hoardings along the roadsides, thrusting danger at every kink and curve.
A drive along the highway stretch reveals the extent of encroachment the plastic waste has had on the numerous rural waterbodies, which were once the hallmark of the delta village scene.
