Madurai city residents protest burning of waste

MADURAI: Residents of Madurai city have demanded an end to the widespread burning of dry waste on the streets by sanitary workers of Madurai corporation, saying it has worsened pollution across zones. While the workers blame it on shortage of vehicles to carry the amount of waste generated, residents say filing of complaints against the unscientific disposal has not yielded results.
A Irulandi, president of Yagappa Nagar residents' association, said, “We have complained to officials against such mindless burning of waste on the streets, but the next day only the venue is shifted.It is burnt on the adjacent street to avoid arguments.” T Suriya, a resident of Sarveshwarar street in Madurai north zone, said sanitary workers were burning waste near Sarveshwarar temple earlier. “After devotees complained, they now burn it near the junction of the same street,” he added. Apart from the pollution, residents' association members say the burnt ashes fly on the roads and make the roads unclean.
Residents of Anupanadi in Madurai south zone said there are fewer sanitary workers in the zone and they come once in two days to collect waste. N R R Gopi, a resident, said, “As the waste generated in two days will be higher than usual, the sanitary workers burn dry waste on the street and carry the rest to the micro composting centres or dump yard.” MP Sankara Pandian, a civic activist from Sellur, said sanitary workers must be sensitised about the ill-effects of burning waste. “Residents also have a hand in this mismanagement of solid waste disposal as many of them are found dumping it at street junctions. As a sanitary worker can't separate the dumped waste, he is forced to burn it,” he added.
A sanitary worker told TOI on condition of anonymity that they don’t have enough vehicles to collect waste as the quantum of waste generated increases day by day. “Many of the garbage collection tricycles are damaged and many LCVs are not in working condition. Shortage of vehicles forces many sanitary workers to burn dry waste as wet waste cannot be burnt,” she added. Asked about the mismanagement, corporation commissioner Simranjeet Singh Kahlon said, “For collection of horticulture waste and dry waste, the corporation has 28 tractors and two tippers separately. Shortage of vehicles is not the reason behind burning of waste.” He said the corporation will take action against those found burning waste.