Citizen Connect: Waste dumped on Kasimedu beach ends up in water, causes concern to visitors

Residents of Kasimedu complain that anonymous dumping of debris, tyres and plastic items on Kasimedu beach is polluting the sea.

Construction debris, plastic materials and clothes are thrown on the beach near N4 police station. Miscreants sometimes even litter residential areas. “We do not know who is dumping the waste near the beach. We don’t throw anything in the sea as we have garbage bins on every street. In all possibility, it should be passers-by who are throwing the waste here. It doesn’t pollute just the sea and affect marine creatures but also dirty our surroundings,” said Pandian V, a resident of Kasimedu.

When DT Next visited the spot, there were huge piles of debris dumped on the beach, starting from the police station to a tollgate in the area.

Around 500 people visit the beach every day. “This is the first time we are visiting this beach. There are waste materials, including garment pieces, floating on the water. The water here is particularly bad when compared to other beaches in the city,” said T Sanjay Kumar from Adyar.

Jawaharlal Shanmugam, an environment activist, said, “The plastic waste doesn’t degrade. They can only break. It is harmful to marine creatures. When people throw waste on the seashore, it will be pulled into the sea with waves and will end up deep into the sea. It can also be transported to other shores with time. The civic authorities need to take some steps to arrest this practice. The debris no only affects marine life. It can also cause skin allergies to those who enter the water or other health problems to those who consume fish.”

G Prakash, Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner, said that the civic body has placed garbage bins but the public still dump waste by the seashore. “Around 20,000 sanitary workers are there to handle waste but it must be a collective effort from the citizens, too,” said Prakash. “Though there are fines/penalties, the situation is not going to change unless the public cooperates towards upkeep of the city,” he added.