Uncleared garbage and overflowing bins have become the norm at many places in Velachery as the civic body struggles to clean up the mess left behind by a private conservancy agency.

As the conservancy operations are not carried out regularly, the overflowing garbage gets strewn at various street junctions, residents complain.

S. Kumararaja, a resident welfare activist of Velachery, said that garbage-filled bins could be seen in a number of areas in Velachery, including localities like Annai Indira Nagar, Baby Nagar, Dhandeeswaram Nagar, LIC Colony, Seshadripuram and VGP Selva Nagar.

Residents complained not only of dirty streets and a foul smell, but also about the uncleared garbage bins posing a health hazard, especially to children.

In Adyar zone, under which Velachery falls, the conservancy operations are undertaken by a private agency.

According to civic officials, the agency has stopped clearing the bins as its extended contract ends in a few months’ time.

The agency is in the process of winding up its operations and has therefore stopped conservancy work, officials said.

Tenders called

At present, the Corporation is using garbage vehicles from other zones to clear the garbage, an official said, explaining the reason for the delay in conservancy operations in Velachery.

“Tenders have been called for fixing a new conservancy operator and once the contractor is chosen, garbage clearance will be normalised,” the Corporation official said.