A fire broke out on Friday night at the Othakadai cremation yard, which is used as a dump by the Othakadai panchayat, and destroyed the accumulated waste.
The fire which started around 7 p.m. was controlled by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel who extinguished the flames using six water tankers.
The residents allege that conservancy workers have this practice of burning garbage at the dump. “After receiving an order from a former Collector, they stopped burning the garbage. But, on Friday, they set fire to the garbage,” says A. Joseph Jerry, a resident of Hajees Garden, which is located right behind the dump.
On Sunday, fire continued at places at the dump from the cinders and the billowing smoke enveloped the nearby areas.
A conservancy worker there was no system of waste segregation, the reason why there were huge mounds of garbage at the dump.
The residents also complained about constant exposure to putrid smoke leading to skin irritation and respiratory problem. “We are unable to tolerate the smoke constantly coming from the dump. We are worried that it will lead to health complication for our two-month-old infant,” said K. Ajmal Khan, a resident of Hajees Garden. The dump has to be shifted, he said.