The Hindu : Front Page : Where the dead can't rest in peace

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2006
ePaper

Front Page

Front Page

Where the dead can't rest in peace

Karthik Madhavan

Garbage clearance, drainage and graveyard top residents' list

GRAVE ISSUE: Pigs feeding on the waste dumped by the Surampatty Municipality at its graveyard on VOC Street. - Photo: M. Govarthan

ERODE: Palanisamy, a merchant from Bhavani, Vijayamurugan, a confectionary store owner in Veerappan Chatram, Shaktivel of Sathyamangalam, V. Dhandapani, a Dharapuram resident and Kaaliamma, a senior citizen in B. P. Agraharam - all have something in common.

That they are from different parts of Erode district and do not know each other do not matter. They share a similar status - victims of official apathy and neglect.

These residents are affected by their civic bodies' non-performance. For example, Mr. Palanisamy and Mr. Vijayamurugan say lack of solid waste management in their area affects business. The latter told The Hindu recently that garbage left unattended by the Veerappan Chatram Municipality flies into his shop, putting off customers. For Mr. Palanisamy it is flies from the nearby dump yard that affects his trade.

They say they did bring it to the notice of civic bodies to no avail.

Their demand: clear garbage regularly and let them conduct business in a healthy environment.

Mr. Shaktivel and Mr. Dhandapani are no different from the above, except that for them clogged drain is the problem. The drain may be different but the same trouble flows from Sathyamangalam to Dharapuam, unclogged. Their demand: clean drains and regularly at that.

There are a few more residents like the above, united by a different problem, though. Theirs has something to do with life after death. However, there is nothing philosophical about it. The concern is about burial grounds, which in many parts of Erode have more or less turned into dump yards, with little space for the dead to rest in peace.

Those in Surrampatty, Veerappan Chatram and Periya Semur municipalities are just a few examples. Examples they are in that they stand proof for how an ill-maintained graveyard can be. Graveyard at Surampatty is worse.

Dogs dig out buried bodies to feast on flesh and bones. In Veerappan Chatram the buried are islands amid decaying waste.

It appears that garbage and sewage are everywhere. Those living in the vicinity of the graveyard demand a clean environment for their departed near and dear ones.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page