Madurai’s Ezhil Koodal initiative wilts under poor upkeep, littering

Madurai: Lack of maintenance, poor choice of locations, and public littering have pushed the Ezhil Koodal beautification initiative in Madurai into neglect. Under the scheme, Madurai corporation placed saplings near the Meenakshi Amman Temple, while several were left stacked on East Chithirai Street. However, upkeep has been poor.Launched on Sept 1, the initiative aimed to improve cleanliness and enhance the city's aesthetics. As part of the plan, saplings were to be placed around the temple to integrate greenery with sanitation and civic awareness.Corporation commissioner Chitra Vijayan said cattle were found grazing on some of the saplings. "The corporation will replant the species accordingly," she said, adding that efforts were also being made to improve civic awareness among the public, though it would take time.V P Manikandan, a resident and activist, welcomed the initiative but pointed out implementation challenges. "The chosen location is cattle-prone, with narrow roads, heavy traffic, and year-round tourist crowds. Instead, the city's real need is accessible public toilets to discourage open defecation," he said.He also suggested heritage information boards as a more sustainable form of beautification due to the traditional nature of the city. "When the city looks beautiful, people will not litter," he added.Officials said blue bamboo bins had been placed around the temple as part of the Ezhil Koodal initiative. This followed a three-month trial during the Chithirai festival using a smaller number of bins."We saw considerable improvement. However, we found that people don't go searching for bins, so we place one at regular intervals in high-footfall areas," an official said.The corporation has procured 500 bamboo bins and plans to install them at Periyar and Mattuthavani bus stands, the official added.