Chennai Citizen Connect: Garbage dumping on roadside annoys Urapakkam residents

CHENNAI: Garbage dumping on vacant spaces and along the roads has become a common sight across the city. Garbage mismanagement has been a never-ending issue, paving the way for various health hazards.

The residents of Urapakkam have expressed similar concerns, flagging the garbage dumping on the Urapakkam Main Road. They lamented that the area had become a mess, and the people could not cross the stretch without covering their noses.

The residents pointed out that the garbage collected from their houses every day is dumped on the roadside near the Grand Southern Trunk Road (GST road).

The said road is the entry point to the village, and it is unfortunate that the vital stretch is used as a dumping site, they further said. The foul smell emanating from the pile of garbage spreads across the street, lamented the residents.

Despite being one of the fastest developing areas in the Chengalpattu district, the absence of a proper dumping site has turned the road into an eyesore. With a population of more than 60,000, many IT employees reside in this area, and improper waste management has become a major inconvenience to the residents and commuters.

Despite several complaints raised with the panchayat to remove the garbage on the roadside, nothing has materialised so far, said the residents. They also expressed concern over the infections and various health hazards due to the uncleaned garbage. The residents further said the situation gets worse during rains, as the stretch turns an eyesore with garbage mixed with rainwater.

When DT Next contacted, an official said that for the past few years, the officials had been searching for a dump yard space for the Urapakkam area, but couldn't find one. However, we will clear the garbage on the roadside regularly, and it will be moved to a dumpyard near Sriperumbudur, assured the official. Hope that a dumpyard will be allocated for Urapakkam soon, the official added.