The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : In Kottivakkam, beach doubles up as garbage dump

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 03, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

In Kottivakkam, beach doubles up as garbage dump

By K. Manikandan

CHENNAI, JUNE 2. Residents of Kottivakkam village panchayat are annoyed over the local body dumping garbage in open trenches on the beach. Concerned that indiscriminate dumping of garbage so close to the water line would cause an ecological imbalance, residents have urged the local body to stop dumping garbage on the beach front.

Residents of Baywatch Boulevard, who have living in the area for six years, said that ever since they settled down here, they have been facing several problems.

The dumping of garbage on the beach is the latest.

The residents, who preferred not to be named, said that for the past one week, panchayat officials were dumping garbage on open trenches adjacent to the Water Land Drive, a road laid by the local body to connect the fishing hamlets with other parts of the panchayat. Apart from being an eyesore, the dumping of garbage is a big inconvenience to people walking on the beach and a health hazard for residents in the nearby fishing hamlet.

Officials of the Panchayat said they were forced to dump refuse just about anywhere they can as they did hot have an exclusive dumping yard.

About five tonnes of garbage is generated in the panchayat daily and the local body dumps the garbage using its two tractors and five bullock carts in places where there is little public resistance.

Residents of Baywatch Boulevard said that vast open spaces that are not fenced are used as open air latrines by people from nearby areas. When the residents ask the `visitors' not to dirty the place, they (residents) are threatened. They also break the streetlights to ensure privacy, the residents said.

They said that a restaurant in the vicinity was letting out untreated water behind its compound, causing problems to other residents. Though the restaurant stopped discharging water following repeated pleas, it continues to dump solid waste, a resident of the Boulevard said.

They also complain that anti-social elements who indulge in `shady' activities are on the prowl any time of the day. Despite the presence of a police booth on the Water Land Drive, merry makers throng the beachside throughout the day, much to the embarrassment of the residents.

They had taken up the issue with the Chengai East and city police authorities and the problem was dealt with an iron hand for some time. But the momentum was not sustained and the problem has resurfaced, residents said.

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