People living near the city’s garbage transfer stations contend with bad odour.
But that is not their main concern. They complain of surface water contamination, frequent outbreaks of diarrhoeal disease, skin infections and a host of other health problems.
“The environment has taken a toll on my health. I am unable to work with this smell that is prevalent through the day,” says Suresh, a tailor living near Mylapore garbage station.
Propel Global, a local NGO, recently conducted a mental health camp for children living near the Mylapore garbage station, to observe the effects of living close to insalubrious conditions. Thirty per cent of the children were diagnosed with developmental disabilities and relatively slow reflex mechanisms and the rest were prone to diseases. Similar complaints have come up in the surveys the NGO conducted among residents.
Vaishnavi from Propel Global says a sense of hygiene is lacking among these residents and this is worsening the situation.
“This situation is attributed to stations’ failure to ensure the pollutants are confined to the dumping yard. During the rains, the garbage from the station enters our streets and we complain to the authorities,” says Kuttiammal, a resident of Thangavelu Street, located near the transfer station at Nungambakkam.
