Residents of Mogappair Eri Scheme complain that they are at the receiving end of noise and air pollution of waste segregation and treatment plant, which, according to them, was set up by the Greater Chennai Corporation without seeking their opinion.
Garbage dumped for segregation in Mogappair
Chennai:
However, the residents of Eri Scheme said that the initiative has a negative impact on the residents. The Eri Scheme area has about 300 houses and a portion of the locality (Ward 91) was a park maintained by the Chennai Corporation. However, in December last year, officials dug up the park and converted it into a waste segregation and treatment plant. “Since biodegradable waste is dumped in 10-feet deep pits, the foul smell emanating from the spot is unbearable to the residents. It has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, said residents.
“Non-biodegradable waste such as plastic are powdered at the plant and as it mixes in the air, residents, especially children, often develop breathing-related difficulties. The constant noise from the machinery is also unbearable,” said Uma Maheshwari, one of the residents. Residents fume over the Corporation’s decision to set up a waste management plant in the middle of a residential colony without even getting their opinion.
The residents said that they had submitted a petition to the Corporation Commissioner in January seeking the removal of the plant from the spot and convert the same into a park again. But no response has come forth. They also said that they had raised the issue with the Small Industries Minister P Benjamin, who resides in the area, but in vain.
Executive engineer Suresh Kumar and zonal officer were not available for comments despite repeated attempts to reach them.
The Chennai Corporation has started to convert parks into composting yards in order to make the city garbage bin-free and prevent roadsides from becoming dump yards. More than 400 parks across the city have turned into micro segregation plants.
However, the residents of Eri Scheme said that the initiative has a negative impact on the residents. The Eri Scheme area has about 300 houses and a portion of the locality (Ward 91) was a park maintained by the Chennai Corporation. However, in December last year, officials dug up the park and converted it into a waste segregation and treatment plant. “Since biodegradable waste is dumped in 10-feet deep pits, the foul smell emanating from the spot is unbearable to the residents. It has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies, said residents.
“Non-biodegradable waste such as plastic are powdered at the plant and as it mixes in the air, residents, especially children, often develop breathing-related difficulties. The constant noise from the machinery is also unbearable,” said Uma Maheshwari, one of the residents. Residents fume over the Corporation’s decision to set up a waste management plant in the middle of a residential colony without even getting their opinion.
The residents said that they had submitted a petition to the Corporation Commissioner in January seeking the removal of the plant from the spot and convert the same into a park again. But no response has come forth. They also said that they had raised the issue with the Small Industries Minister P Benjamin, who resides in the area, but in vain.
Executive engineer Suresh Kumar and zonal officer were not available for comments despite repeated attempts to reach them.
If you notice any civic issues unattended by authorities, please write to us with a photograph at citizen.dtnext@dt.co.in