CHENNAI: Open garbage dumping has become rampant across the city with the public being forced to throw waste in open spaces as the civic body fails to collect garbage regularly.

The residents of Vaigai Street and nearby localities in Tirumullaivoyal have raised concerns about irregular waste collection in their area. The neighbourhood litter is an eyesore and a breeding ground for diseases and other civic issues.

The construction debris, domestic waste, and scattered garbage on the streets have been causing a major inconvenience to pedestrians and the locals. The situation becomes worse with a foul smell emanating from the dumped garbage.

The residents highlighted that the civic body officials have failed to ensure regular waste collection. Speaking on the same, Inthu, a resident of Vaigai Street said, “As there are irregularities in waste collection, people have no other choice but to resort to throwing waste by the roads or at the corners of the streets.”

The residents also raised concerns about health issues because of the unhygienic environment. “The foul smell is unbearable, and the area is infested with pests and rodents, which can lead to various health problems, especially in children and the elderly. Despite complaining to civic authority multiple times, nothing has changed to date,” said Arun Kumar, a resident of the area.

Besides demanding regular waste collection, the residents have also requested the local body officials to increase the frequency of waste collection because they are made to store household waste in excess at their homes for a long time.

When DT Next contacted the civic body officials regarding the issue, they said they would look into the matter immediately and take necessary steps to improve waste management in the area.