Irregular waste collection in Chitlapakkam irks residents

Chennai: Around 5,000 residents living near Chitlapakkam lake face a health hazard risk due to heaps of garbage dumped on the roadside and near the lake. Stating that the private contractor responsible for door-to-door waste collection does not visit regularly, locals said many people have been dumping garbage in open spaces, especially near the lake compound wall and under streetlights.When TOI visited the spot, large heaps of garbage, including plastic, vegetable, and meat waste, were seen near the lake. At least eight untethered herds of cattle and nearly 10 stray dogs were feeding on the waste. Residents said irregular collection of garbage not only creates a hazard for the public, but also for the animals.While Tambaram corporation collects around 450 tonnes of garbage every day, residents claim that a considerable quantity of waste remains uncollected in many localities. "In areas such as Camp Road, Natarajan Street, Raja Nagar, and Kamarajar Nagar, garbage remains on the roadside and rots for at least three days before it is removed. The corporation must take action immediately," said V Saritha, secretary of Ganesh Nagar residents' welfare association.Sunil Jayaram of Chitlapakkam Rising said the corporation should closely monitor waste collection. "Officials must maintain records and check whether door-to-door collection is carried out properly by the outsourced contractor. Awareness campaigns should be conducted, and the corporation must impose fine on the contractor if the work is not done properly," he said.A senior corporation official said, "We have received several complaints. Necessary action will be taken, and additional vehicles will be deployed to improve garbage collection in Chitlapakkam."