Open dumping spoiling the water bodies present in Chennai now!!
Have you come across open dumping near the canal behind the Ashok Nagar based ESI Hospital or near the Virugambakkam canal or near the Kotturpuram bridge close to Adyar river etc and have found it difficult to digest?
The conservancy workers from Urbaser Sumeet in the city have been facing many problems now due to the open dumping. A conservancy worker spoke about how the canal behind ESI Hospital in Ashok Nagar has been cleaned often but the residents throw waste around it. There is more need for source segregation at the ward levels.
It was brought out by Mr. M. Radhakrishnan of Arappor Iyakkam that the lack of awareness regarding and unchecked bulk waste from offices, restaurants, industries etc were responsible for the issue. He spoke about how in markets such as MGR Nagar Market unsegregated waste gets dumped near the canal by the vendors. He added that the waste falls into the water bodies due to bins present in Alapakkam and Ramapuram lakes. It is worth noting that waste in SWD would clog the canals especially during the rains. This could be overcome by piloting solid waste management or SWM in one ward and replicating the Kumbakonam municipality model.
According to a senior researcher at Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group it was clear that most of the waste has been single use plastic items. He spoke about how these single use plastic items were dangerous.
Micro level plan for recycling:
It was later mentioned by president of Environment Awareness and Protection Association Mr. S. Mohan that GCC should have a micro level plan for recycling and composting in every area. He was unhappy regarding unauthorised vegetable vendors who have occupied the bunds of Pallikaranai marshlands as they openly dump waste near the water body.
