Citizen Connect: Motorists at risk as cattle litter road from garbage bins in Mugalivakkam

Garbage overflowing from the bins placed on Ramakrishna Nagar Main Road in Mugalivakkam are making it a risky ride for motorists as the cattle reared in the locality gorge on the waste and spread it on the road before the trucks arrive to empty the bins.

While the foul smell emanating from the spillage irk the shop owners and residents of the locality, the plastic waste flies to different directions in the wind.

“Conservancy workers finish their job by 7 am but the garbage truck usually comes after 1 pm. In the meanwhile, cattle litter the entire road. Stray dogs also join them in their search for food. When the truck finally comes, they clear the remaining waste in the bins, leaving the spilled waste unattended. This has become a daily routine,” said Azaraf Ali, who runs a bakery on the road. While this is the situation even when the truck comes regularly, on days when the truck does not turn, the road becomes unusable for motorists and residents, said Azaraf Ali.

A Mani, another resident of the locality, said that restaurants on the main road dump their waste in the bins here during night hours and it cannot be controlled. “The road is already narrow and there is not much space for the bins. The spilling of the waste makes it worse. If the bins are moved to the nearby lanes, it will help the residents and prevent the dumping of waste by restaurants,” he said. Mani said that he has taken the matter up with Corporation officials several times, but it did not yield any results.

The road falls under 158th ward of 12th zone (Alandur) in Chennai Corporation. However, the officials were not available for their comment.