Citizen Connect: Panchayat burns garbage on private plot, residents concerned about health risks

The Peerkankaranai village panchayat consists of 15 wards with a population of more than 25,000 people. It is one of the fast developing areas in the suburbs of Chennai. Many people from other cities and States, who are working at a nearby IT Park, live in Peerkankaranai.

Sources said that Peerkankaranai does not have a designated place to segregate and store garbage. The panchayat had approached the government seeking a place to dump the garbage in the past. But the request is still in progress. 

Residents here complained that the workers who collect the garbage are dumping them at any available lands in the locality and even burn it there. Reportedly, some of the staff members park the garbage-collection vehicle at street corners.

D Sam Asir from the locality said that “The foul smell and smoke caused by the burning of garbage are affecting the health of our children and the elderly people.

The land where the garbage is burnt every day is located close to Peerkankaranai Government Higher Secondary School. Students have to walk through the smoke to reach school every morning.

Residents reasoned that the panchayat should not dump the waste at a residential area. As it is vacation time for students, they are mostly playing outside. The pile of garbage and its regular burning can cause health issues to our kids, said a resident.

When contacted, Peerkankaranai Executive Officer R Suma said, “We will immediately start an inquiry and take appropriate action against staff responsible for illegal dumping of waste. 

We would also make sure that it wouldn’t happen in the future.” She added that they have approached the government for a place to dump garbage and hopefully it would be allocated soon.