Indiscriminate dumping of garbage has eaten a considerable space in the service road of Maduravoyal-Irumbuliyur Byepass Road. The menace has assumed such a proportion that two-wheelers and pedestrians are often subjected to minor accidents near Mogappair West. The stretch between Nolambur intersection and Maduravoyal has become a high-risk zone.
Despite being merged with the Chennai Corporation, garbage collection and clearance have not improved in areas such as Ambattur, Mogappair or in Nolambur. Added to this is a section of indifferent residents and traders, who dump garbage in public places and road margins.
G. Sivanandam, a regular commuter and a resident of Thiruvalluvar Salai, Mogappair, said that it is an eyesore to see garbage dumped on the roadside and burnt. “Despite High Court orders on various issues relating to garbage handling, very little has been done by the local bodies in handling solid waste management,” says M. Karthikeyan, a resident of Mogappair Western Extension. Several stretches of Chennai Byepass Road continue to be under a blanket of smoke, he points out.
The volume of traffic on this service road has increased phenomenally, as many school vans use this road. Garbage volume is increasing day by day, which is not being cleared by Chennai Corporation.
This has resulted in garbage being strewn on the road by stray dogs and cattle which feed on them.
Residents say that with very little being done by the village panchayats on source segregation, it is sad to notice that local bodies do not follow the stipulations laid down under Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000. These rules shall apply to every municipal authority responsible for collection, segregation, storage, transportation, processing and disposal of municipal solid wastes.
The waste processing and disposal facilities to be set up by the municipal authority on their own or through an operator of a facility shall meet the specifications and standards as specified in Schedules III and IV of the said rules.
Residents have represented to the Chennai Corporation to get rid of this menace, but nothing moved in their favour. Residents have called for the attention of the Municipal Administration officials, District Administrators and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
As their request has not been heeded to, they say they would put up a stir against this adverse situation.
