A section of residents of Virattipathu on Theni highway staged a demonstration against the Corporation on Sunday for constructing a waste composting unit in their area.
The Corporation plans to establish 43 on-site composting units to ensure where biodegradable waste from households could be dumped. The plan, proposed last year, is aimed at decentralising the collection of biodegradable waste so that every neighbourhood could compost it and make use of them.
But the Virattipathu residents fear that the composting unit would pose a health hazard to them. R. Ramasamy, secretary of PTR Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association, said the unit was being set up in an area surrounded by houses. Besides, there was a Primary Health Centre nearby. “We have no qualms about having a composting unit per se, but we have concern about the location only, as the foul smell will be overpowering,” he said.
Instead, this space could be ideally used for building a library, a Corporation school or a children's play area, Mr. Ramasamy said.
C. K. Tamilchelvam, another resident, said the Corporation did not care to involve the residents while planning to utilise the space for a public utility. “Had we known earlier, we would have raised objection long before the construction began,” he said.
Mr. Ramasamy said they would petition the Collector and Corporation Commissioner in this regard, and had submitted a representation to Su. Venkatesan, MP.
