Citizen Connect: Construction debris dumped around bin encroaches busy street in Kodambakkam

The bin is placed on Second Street of the Colony at the junction of Sivan Koil Street and Second Street, near an electricity transformer. “Drivers entering the Second Street from Sivan Koil Street have to be extra cautious to avoid garbage thrown around the garbage bin,” said a shop owner on Sivan Koil Street.

When DT Next visited the spot on Sunday, the bin was found in poor condition. It was rusted, damaged and had big dents.

Earlier, added the shop owner, workers from the civic body used to remove the garbage from the spot regularly. This discouraged the miscreants from dumping their construction debris around the bin. “Now, however, the officials’ apathy seems to have emboldened them,” he added.

A resident of the street said on condition of anonymity that many hotels and shops on Sivan Koil Street dump their waste around the bin instead of throwing it inside it. “This is the major reason for the pathetic condition of the street. Open urination near the transformer also adds to the stench,” he added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt from the civic sources that the private firm appointed to clear garbage in Teynampet zone, within which Bharatheeswarar Colony falls under, has reportedly reduced its manpower. Even though the contract that the Corporation inked with the firm expired in March, the civic body extended it for a further six months due to Lok Sabha elections.

But, the representative of the private firm denied the allegation of reducing manpower, claiming that they have been deploying full strength to clear the garbage. This is not the only area where the residents have raised complaints of unchecked dumping of construction debris around garbage bins. According to the public, it has become common in Choolaimedu and Kodambakkam areas that fall under the same Teynampet zone. However, officials claim that they were imposing penalty against those dumping debris. “Persons dumping them will be penalised up to Rs 2,000 per tonne. We are taking periodic actions against such persons,” an official said.

When asked about the specific issue in Bharatheeswarar Colony, the official said that he would ask the private firm doing conservancy in the area to clear the garbage immediately. “We will also take necessary steps to prevent the dumping of debris.”