Citizen Connect: Open urination, garbage on Tamil Salai poses health hazard to commuters and ICH patients

In the worst, people urinate in the open exactly opposite to the Government Children’s Hospital. “There is a vacant plot that has been turned into a garbage dumping and urination spot. Even though the owner of the plot constructed a compound wall-like structure, many passers-by use the pavement to urinate,” said an owner of a roadside shop.

Another reason for the despicable condition, “Even the visitors to Children’s Hospital urinate in the spot. The Chennai Corporation workers clean the garbage every day, but they could not prevent open urination,” an auto-rickshaw driver said.

However, the visitors said that the toilet facility inside the hospital was inadequate forcing them to relieve outside. They added that there was no public toilet in the vicinity and hence were forced to walk for several minutes to find public toilet near the Egmore railway station.

When DT Next visited the spot, on Thursday, the earth and soil removed from elsewhere were found dumped on the platform. “Sometimes, miscreants dump garden waste, fallen branches and others on the pavement. If the Corporation removes tricycles used for collecting garbage from the spot and regulates the auto-rickshaw parking, it will discourage the persons from urinating in open,” the shop owner said.

Apart from being an eyesore on the road that also houses the office of Tamil Development Department, the dumping-cum-urinating spot emanates unbearable stench posing health hazards. “On Tuesday, when I was travelling on the road, a huge pile of garden waste was dumped opposite the hospital. While the officials ought to be prompt in clearing the spot, visitors should also restrain themselves from creating untidiness on the public road,” M Vishnupriya, a resident of Choolaimedu said. She added that she had to cover her nose while crossing the spot. “I don’t know whether the stench will pose as a threat to my unborn baby but I need to be careful so I decided to avoid the road.”

When asked a Chennai Corporation official, he said that the conservancy workers are clearing the spot every day, but the public continue to abuse the space. “However, we will take measures to keep the place clean,” he assured.