The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Garbage hogs attention of council meetings in southern suburbs

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Wednesday, Dec 26, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Garbage hogs attention of council meetings in southern suburbs

Special Correspondent

“Health problems on the rise in villages as garbage piles up”

— PHOTO: A. MURALITHARAN

GARBAGE MENACE: Waste dumped at Ganapathipuram near Pallavaram, as seen on Monday.

TAMBARAM: The location of garbage dumping sites and the status of compost yards, including the proposed yard in Venkatamangalam near Vandalur dominated the proceedings of council meetings in the southern suburbs on Monday.

At the meeting of St. Thomas Mount Panchayat Union (Mount Block), Chitlapakkam, held once in two months, councillors sought information on the status of compost yards in the 25 village panchayats of the block.

Councillor from Jaladampettai Rama Sekar recalled that about six months ago, the Kancheepuram district administration had announced that sites for constructing compost yards were identified.

Problems relating to health and hygiene were increasing in many villages owing to dumping of garbage, Mr. Rama Sekar said.

“I want to know the steps taken by officials at the Block Development Office and District Rural Development Agency to address the problem,” he said.

Officials said the Kancheepuram district administration had mooted proposals for common landfill sites to dispose of garbage generated in the villages of the Block and that work was expected to commence soon.

In the Pallavaram Municipality, councillors said the problems faced by people living near garbage dumping yards were beyond description. Councillor from Ward No. 23 S.Bharathan said that for several years now, most of the garbage generated from the 42 wards of the local body were being dumped in Ganapathipuram.

Apart from plastic and kitchen waste, carcasses of stray cattle were thrown there, he said, adding that nearly 75 tonnes of garbage were being dumped here everyday. “The plight of people living in Ganapathipuram is pathetic,” Mr. Bharathan said. The condition of sanitary workers was even worse, he added.

Municipal Chairman E. Karunanidhi told the councillor that the permanent solution was the integrated compost yard being built on modern and scientific lines at Venkatamangalam near Vandalur. Councillors also suggested that composting of kitchen waste could be taken up in the respective wards to prevent one urban pocket from getting ravaged owing to dumping of garbage.

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