Residents of JK Gardens at Ukkadam and nearby colonies on Wednesday staged a demonstration by detaining nearly seven sewage tanker trucks. They protested against the dumping of garbage in the open and letting sewage into the open area.
Shahul Hameed, Secretary of JK Gardens, said that the situation was getting worse day by day and they were forced to live in the midst of foul smell.
Children studying at a private school in the nearby area were put to untold hardship as foul smell emanated from the dumped garbage and sewage.
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The drivers refused to go till the chamber constructed for the purpose of serving as an intake of sewage water and despatching it to the treatment plant.
Over 30 to 40 vehicles discharged the sewage water in an hour. Residents of Kottaipudur, JK Gardens, Bilal Estate, Al-Ameen Colony, GM Nagar and Anbu Nagar areas and faced the problem.
The garbage dumped included chemical, poultry, meat waste, plastic and hospital waste. Miscreants set fire to such waste when the dumped load becomes excessive in the area. The smoke generated by setting fire led to breathing problems and suffocation to the residents, Mr. Hameed added.
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A petition to the special cell of the Chief Minister evoked a response recently stating that dumping of waste and letting of sewage water was completely stopped. But on Tuesday, residents took pictures of the dumping by the vehicles and made a representation to the Mayor S.M. Velusamy, who promised stern action and gave a mobile number to complain.
Accordingly, residents detained nearly seven trucks and informed the officials. This led to commotion. Corporation officials, who rushed to the spot, defused the tense situation and promised the residents that trucks letting sewage water into the open would be impounded and steps would be taken to cancel their registration and licence of the drivers would be suspended and if it were to be Corporation vehicles, severe departmental action would be taken. Following the assurances, residents gave up the agitation.