Citizen Connect: From mosquitoes to dead cat, Thiruvalluvar Nagar residents have a lot to deal with

When the common garbage bin was removed from their neighbourhood last week, the residents of Thiruvalluvar Nagar in New Washermanpet were assured by the officials from Greater Chennai Corporation that the waste would instead be collected from their doorstep by its workers. However, there have not yet been any efforts to fulfil the assurance, leaving them to deal with the waste accumulating and rotting on the road.

“Last week, the Corporation officials removed the common waste bin on our street after giving us the assurance that waste would be collected from each and every house individually by sanitary workers. But after the dustbin was removed, no one came for waste collection. This has been the case for more than a week,” said Sasi Rekha, a resident of Thiruvalluvar Nagar.

Following this, the people there began throwing waste on the road below a transformer. “When we asked them not to dump it there, they shout at us,” she added.

The local residents say they have been going through a harrowing experience after the bin was removed. According to Balamurugan R, another resident, the garbage strewn around has not only worsened the locality’s hygiene but also led to a spike in mosquito menace. “There is a stench from the garbage mound, with cattle feeding on it and spreading the waste around the area. Many children were hospitalised due to various health problems due to this,” Balamurugan said.

Pushed to a corner by this, some residents were forced to do whatever little they can. “Few days ago, we found a dead cat lying in the garbage. We called the Corporation zonal office to clean the place, but they did not respond. So, we ourselves went forward to clear the carcass from the garbage as the stench was unbearable,” said Ramesh K, another resident of Thiruvalluvar Nagar.

He added that the people there were forced to always keep the windows closed to keep the foul smell and mosquitoes away. “During rains, the situation is even worse with the waste floating about in the flood water. It is disguising to step out of the house at that time,” he said.

Speaking to DT Next, a senior Corporation official said the sanitary workers were instructed to clear the place twice a day. “We haven’t received any complaints from the residents of this locality. If there are complaints, immediate steps will be taken to address the issues,” the official said.