A blanket of smoke seems to permanently envelop Chitlapakkam, a southern suburb of the city, causing breathing problems to residents and road users. Children and elders are among the worst affected as the smoke hovers around the dump yard on Chitlapakkam Second Main Road.
The dump yard has been in existence for more than three decades but large-scale burning of garbage is a recent practice. The town panchayat generates nearly 12 tonnes of waste every day. While the segregated waste is sent to the compost yard near the Chitlapakkam Lake, the mounds of other waste remain on the lake-bed, posing serious health problems to school children.
Students are especially affected due to the presence of a school nearby. “When we complain, the officials find excuses for not addressing the issue, “ said K Sundararaman, a resident.
Officials of the town panchayat however denied any large-scale burning. “Some miscreants set fire to the tree branches at night. We have posted staff to prevent such incidents,” said an official. But the fire and smoke were visible till late in the evening on Thursday.
