Citizen connect: Illegally dumped construction debris on Cooum banks poses risk to motorists’ life on College Road

“Near DPI campus on College Road, there is a piece of empty land on the riverbank where miscreants dump construction waste. As the road curves exactly at that spot, two-wheeler riders are in great danger because of loose soil spread on the road,” T Sudhakar, a motorist said.

Sudhakar added that the amount of debris at the spot is increasing daily. When DT Next visited the spot, piles of construction waste, earth and other waste were found dumped at the spot. Apart from this, the milled portion of bituminous tar road was also found there, suggesting that the Corporation contractors are also using the spot as a dumping site.

M Manikandan, another motorist, said that the amount of waste on the spot was far lesser than what it is now a few weeks ago. He complained that the natural resource its banks are being exploited. It may be noted that the Chennai Corporation and public works department had recently cleaned Cooum river and removed garbage in order to ensure free flow of water.

“The debris has now reached till the road. If authorities continue to be lethargic, the spot will be far too dangerous for vehicles, especially two-wheelers. Officials should act before anything goes wrong,” Manikandan urged.

As per Corporation rules, dumping of construction waste on roads, near garbage bins and other public places is an offence, which would attract a penalty. But due to the lack of earmarked location to dump construction waste, building owners dump debris on/near water bodies across the city.

When asked, a Corporation official said that the miscreants dump construction waste during the night hours and they are trying to identify them.

“Whenever we find illegal dumping of debris, we penalise building owners. Also, measures will be taken to remove debris from the spot and prevent further dumping,” the official assured.