Residents seek action over waste dumped near waterbody

Madurai: Excessive dumping of waste behind Mannar Thirumalai Naicker College in Thiruparankundram has caused residents to worry about the condition of the nearby pond. They are now urging the authorities to clear the waste immediately to avoid further discomfort to residents as well as any pollution to the pond.Waste has been dumped on the entire stretch of Vilachery Main Road, till the Karrupusamy temple. Social activist and Madurai resident V P Manickandan said, "The area is like a mini mountain of waste that has been dumped there." He added that the waste was not cleared in weeks and is becoming a small dumping ground like Vellakkal.The proximity of the waste to the nearby Thenkarai pond is another cause of concern. The piling-up waste could enter the waterbody and pollute it.Several members of residents' welfare associations in the city have also complained about the lack of regular waste collection in the past few days. Balasubramaniam said that many dustbins are overflowing in the area and the rains have also caused the waste to develop a bad stench, causing discomfort to the residents.An official from the public works department said that they are in talks with the corporation to take a ‘two-pronged effort' to clear the waste and improve the fencing around the Thenkarai waterbody to prevent waste from being thrown near it in the future. A corporation official also said that regular garbage collection has slowed down in the past few days owing to the unpredictable rain. He added that "sanitation workers are working to clear the waste from the central city areas currently and then they will focus on the rest of the city as well."