Garbage dump makes Kodungaiyur gasp

CHENNAI: More than six lakh people are gasping for breath in Kodungaiyur as the city dumps its waste on a vacant piece of land that has been allegedly earmarked by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority as a place for institutional purposes in its second master plan.More than 4,000 tonnes of the city’s waste is dumped in the 450 acres of land. “The city has 10 zones of which seven zones are piling in the waste here,” said NS Ramachandra Rao, president of Ever Vigilant Citizens Welfare Association.Rao, who has been waging a war against the alleged illegal dump yard, said, “As per the second master plan, the site was earmarked for 'institutional' purposes, but it is now being used as a dump yard. ” Even Perambur MLA A Soundararajan concurs with his view. “I stay nearby and understand the problems faced by the residents. Even Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa did an aerial survey of the dump yard and has also announced to make the city garbage-free. This has filled us with hope,” he said.Interestingly, the residents, along with an international voluntary organisation working on garbage management, will organise a conference to help Chennai choose from a range of working options for decentralised garbage management schemes initiated in different parts of India.Dharmesh Shah of Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance (GAIA) and noted environmentalist Nityanand Jayaram said that in October, a day-long conference will be held to provide suggestions to civic administrators in Tamil Nadu. “It will showcase progressive waste management initiatives from different cities in India, and around the world,” said Shah.Surprisingly, there were also several initiatives by the government, but it failed to see the light of the day as it failed to get the clearance of the Union environment ministry.“If solid waste management is introduced in the area, we could save huge tracts of land as only 20 acres of land will be required to fill the waste in the pits,” said Soundararajan.The waste is currently burnt in the open, resulting in poisonous fumes. “We can’t breathe. It is so suffocating,” said Soundarajan. Even a California University report of the sample taken downwind of the Kondingayur dumpyard states that chemicals are harmful for eyes, skin, respiratory tract, central nervous system, kidneys, liver, reproductive system, cardio vascular system, bone marrow and nervous system.Rao also said that dumping must be stopped immediately and that a no-man’s land must be found to clear the garbage.