Residents of Urapakkam sitting on epidemic bomb

The bins on Valliamai Street, Manna Garden, Palayuthuammankovil Street and many others are sometimes not cleared for months on end and the neighbourhood has become a haunt for stray dogs and cows looking for food. This apart, rodents and pests, which abound around the bins, have made life miserable for the residents. 

“The garbage is cleared by the conservancy workers hardly once a month and the rest of the time they never come here. Children are forced to walk through these polluted streets to reach schools. They are always at the risk of disease and frequently fall ill,” said Mohamad Shameer, a college student from Urapakkam. 

Residents’ association office-bearers say they have complained many times to the panchayat. “Officials have not taken any action till now,” a resident of Manna Garden said. 

Sivakalai Selvam, Block Development Officer, Kattankulathur, said, “We are doing our best. The problem is that we don’t have a proper place to segregate waste. We have sought a place in Kolathur and are waiting for allotment. There will be no delay in clearing garbage once we get it.”