Concern over dumping of garbage on banks of Adyar

Airport periphery just a stone's throw away

May 21, 2011 01:58 am | Updated 02:40 am IST - TAMBARAM:

Garbage being burnt in Gowl Bazaar, near the airport. Photo: A. Muralitharan

Garbage being burnt in Gowl Bazaar, near the airport. Photo: A. Muralitharan

Chennai airport authorities and elected representatives of Kunrathur Panchayat Union have expressed concern over the dumping of garbage, sometimes even hazardous waste, on the banks of the Adyar river, which is just a stone's throw away from the periphery of the airport.

Though the issue was raised more than six months ago at a joint meeting in which airport authorities expressed their fears over the dumping so close to the runway, nothing has been done to check it.

Unlike many other areas where local bodies dump garbage at their will, in this case, a number of miscreants dump garbage of all forms under the cover of darkness. A few years ago, there was only a narrow pathway running along the northern banks of the Adyar river.

Modernisation of airport

When modernisation works of the airport began, this pathway was widened to make way for movement of heavy vehicles transporting men and construction material. Residents of Gerugambakkam said that using the newly created pathway, miscreants seized the opportunity and began to come in heavy vehicles to conveniently dump their garbage.

A councillor of Kunrathur Panchayat Union, that comes under Sriperumbudur taluk, said the waste included rubber, plastic, meat, poultry and those generated in leather tanneries.

Garbage pushed to river

Garbage was even pushed into the river from the banks margins to keep the pathway clear. The councillor pointed out that the river was already polluted with effluents and sewage all along its course and this indiscriminate dumping of garbage was bound to deliver a death blow to it. Further, Gowl Bazaar and Gerugambakkam were among the few areas in this region of the city were agriculture was done .

The immediate need was to create a checkpost at the pathway beside the causeway across Adyar River connecting Gowl Bazaar and Gerugambakkam panchayats. This would prevent movement of vehicles other than those headed to the airport.

Enquiry

Officials at the Padappai unit of Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board said they had not received any specific information or a communication from any of the Central or other State government agencies.

They would, however, initiate an enquiry and also make a detailed study of the spot to assess the damage.

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