Waste dump on lake bed extends to road

Waste dump on lake bed extends to road

Chitlapakkam Residents Fume As Restoration Efforts Go Waste

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  06.09.2021

Despite directions from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the garbage dump on the banks of Chitlapakkam lake hasn’t been cleared, much to the chagrin of the residents, who initiated a civic movement to revive the lake. The waste mound now stretches to the road.

A segregation unit and an incinerator were set up on the Chitlapakkam lake bed a year and a half ago. Waste collected by the town panchayat is taken to this segregation unit for sorting and then taken either to the incinerators or dump yard. But this sorting is not being done regularly and the waste has been piling up, say residents. The town panchayat with 18 wards and around 50,000 residents collects 11 to 15 tonnes of waste daily.

The water body saw a reprieve owing to residents’ associations’ consistent efforts over several years — both physical and virtual — by filing petitions in courts and by creating awareness through social media campaigns. A portion of the lake was used as a garbage dump by the public and the local body for decades and there were several encroachments. “Despite restoration efforts, the lake bed is used for sorting waste,” a resident said.

Residents complain that unsorted waste now extends from the lake bed to the nearby road.

According to a member of civic action group, Chitlapakkam Rising, the garbage has not been cleared for weeks together despite repeated complaints. Stray cattle and dogs feed on the garbage, which is harmful to them, the member said.

“The recent rain has made things worse. The stench from the area is so strong. The water body is right at the entrance of the town panchayat limits, it is not very welcoming,” said K Thiru, a resident.

Residents say the rotting muck also pollutes the groundwater in the neighbourhood.

Sunil Jayaraman, another member of Chitlapakkam Rising, said NGT directions to clear the garbage hasn’t been adhered to by the town panchayat authorities.

Earlier this year, NGT had suo motu directed the town panchayat to shift the solid waste management resource recovery park on the Chitlapakkam lake bed and also observed that solid waste management rules have not been followed. It had also asked for a factual report from TNPCB and Chengalpet district collector on the matter.

When contacted, an official with the town panchayat told TOI that the waste would be cleared soon and that they are planning to move some of the waste to a recycling unit in Keerapakkam.

SOURCE OF POLLUTION: The NGT had asked panchayat officials to shift out the garbage segregation unit from the Chitlapakkam lake bed