Residents of a section of Rangarajapuram Main Road, Kodambakkam, are facing a problem of plenty. Some 300 metres of this long stretch has around 10 dustbins, placed at small intervals. And residents say, it has made the area look like a dumping ground.
“A few years ago, we did not have many bins on the road. With a slum in the vicinity, many were dumping garbage on the road. The residents had therefore requested the Corporation to place more bins on the street. But, now there are more dustbins than we really need. Also, the bins are not cleared regularly. The entire place wears a dirty look and mosquitoes and flies have a field day,” says Sheela, a resident.
Residents say the number of bins varies from day to day. “One day we find a bin removed and the next day it is back again. We don’t know who is doing this,” she adds.
A few children on the street were diagnosed with cholera a few months ago. “The doctors said that the unhealthy environment could be the cause. We took the reports to the Corporation and requested them to clean up the area. But nothing has been done. They are only adding to the number of bins and not providing a solution,” she adds. The residents of Majestic Apartment are now planning to go in for source segregation and plan on placing a common bin within their apartment.
“We are planning to request other apartments to follow suit. This will make the conservancy staff’s job easy and also eliminate the need for so many bins,” they say.
