Citizen Connect: STP, composting yard inside ‘lung space’ emanates foul smell, complain residents

Residents of Manikandan Nagar in Hasthinapuram are irked due to the foul smell emanating from the sewage treatment plant (STP) and composting yard that are being operated adjacent to the public park in the locality.

According to the residents, the Pallavaram Municipality recently converted a portion of the public park to install a sewage treatment plant (STP) and compost facility. The public park is the lone facility available in the residential area. “It is customary for the residents to celebrate Independence Day inside the park. This is the only lung space available for us. We protested when the civic body attempted to usurp the whole park to set up various facilities. After our protest, they allotted only a portion to the project,” said a resident of Hasthinapuram.

Residents from neighbouring areas including Krishna Nagar, Venkatraman Nagar, Vinobhaji Nagar, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Thirumalai Nagar and Muthusami Nagar also use the park on a regular basis.

After demarcation, the civic body had set up two facilities at the premises but failed to maintain them properly, said the residents. “The foul smell from the facility is due to improper segregation of waste. It also acts as a breeding ground for the mosquitoes causing serious sanitation and health problems, especially for children. Many have fallen sick due to this,” claimed another resident.

The residents urged the authorities to shut down two facilities and restore the space as the public park with additional facilities like drinking water, play area for children and walkers’ path. “We have been asking the authorities to install facilities that will benefit the residents. But it still remains a distant dream as the local body has not taken steps to fulfill it,” the resident added.

When questioned about the issue, a local body official said that the facility was set with an aim to improve the sanitation in the area. “After considering the situation right now, necessary steps will be taken to address the sanitation and hygiene problems persisting in the locality,” he added.