Garbage bins have a way of sparking off disputes among residents. Nobody wants to have them placed in front of their houses, as they invite stray dogs and cattle. And then, there is the problem of the pervasive stench.
If garbage bins can cause so many problems, why not do away with them?
Many senior-citizens on South Mada Street, Thiruvanmiyur, believe that can be the only solution to the long-running problem they have been having with commercial establishments. A few senior-citizens living in the apartments Devi, Shakthi and adjoining ones, want the Corporation to remove the bin in front of their apartment and restore the earlier practice of door-to-door collection of waste. Their allege that a meat shop and a few eateries dump their leftovers in a Corporation bin placed in front of Devi Apartment.
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There is a row of commercial establishments opposite these apartments and independent houses which, according to Devi Residents Welfare Association, belong to Marundeeswarar Temple and they were rented out for a nominal fee many decades ago. South Mada Street has two trash bins, but as many shops are located near these apartments, waste from these shops are indiscriminately dumped into the one in front of Devi Apartment.
On Wednesday, the bin was cleared, yet dirty fluids could be seen spilling around the bin raising a stink. Construction debris from an adjoining complex is also dumped, say residents.
“Often commercial establishments dump their leftovers only in the night so that nobody notices it,” says S. Hariharan, a long-time resident of the area. At times, coconut vendors also drop the shells and husks into the bin, he added.
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Twenty years ago when S.V. Gopalakrishnan chose a flat facing the main road, he never thought that it would turn to be a disadvantage. “I do not open the balcony door as the stench from the bin is nauseating,” says the senior citizen whose first-floor house overlooks the bin.
Visitors to a bank on the apartment premises have little choice but to park their vehicles close to the bin and come with their nose covered.
“As per the rules of Hindu Religious Endowment Board, a non-vegetarian stall is not permitted within the four streets of a temple, this is in the interest of devotees’ sentiments and to facilitate procession of the temple deity during festival days,” says Seshadri Kannan. Residents say this is enforced at the Mada streets of Kapaleswarar Temple and at Vadapalani and Thiruvottiyur.
This is not the only problem faced by residents. Haphazardly parked vehicles and people relieving themselves near the bin have added to their miseries.
According to D. Venkatesh, general manager (operations), Ramky, public bins are mainly meant for residents. “Commercial establishments are required to have separate bins outside their premises or they should dump waste when the conservancy van comes to the locality,” he said.
Residents have represented the issue to the Corporation and want action to be taken.