Garbage dumped on road near Koodal Alagar Temple

Leaving garbage on the roads or around the dumper bins would attract fines and severe punishment for spoiling the eco-system, said Corporation Commissioner Gaurav Kumar here on Tuesday.

He was inspecting a few lowlying areas in and around Periyar bus stand in the early morning with the city health officials and sanitary inspectors.

On seeing the garbage strewn all over the road near the famous Sri Koodal Alagar Temple, the Commissioner instructed the officials to keep surveillance and punish violators.

“By leaving garbage on the road, the stretch turned unpleasant and unhygienic....” People should cooperate by either dropping garbage in bins or hand it over to conservancy workers visiting their doorsteps,” he said.

At Kamaraj Nagar, he spotted water stagnant on the road and urged the engineering department officials to clear the storm water drains, with the help of machines. In some other locations, sucker machines were also brought in to clear encroachment, which subsequently resulted in waterlogging on roads.

Some of the conservancy workers at Periyar bus stand and West Masi Street said that as the bins were full and the waste dumped got soaked in rains, they were unable to clear them.

“It was very difficult to lift the dumper bins and drain the water....” they said.

Likewise, at BB Kulam, Sellur, Jamburopuram market and near Government Rajaji Hospital, the conservancy workers had a tough time in clearing the garbage, they said and added that the problem could be resolved permanently only with the cooperation of the residents and hoteliers.

The drivers complained that due to poor upkeep of vehicles, they were not able to finish the trips through the day. Breakdown of vehicles resulted in either delay in reaching out to the wards or they were able to cover the wards only the following day.

An assistant engineer overseeing the maintenance said that at least 20% of the total vehicles was in a bad shape and required immediate attention.

“We have raised the issue and hope to get them redressed in about a week or so.”

Madurai City, which has 100 wards across five zones, lifted around 700 to 800 metric tons of garbage daily. Leaving even 10 to 20 per cent of waste uncleared would pose difficulties for the public, especially, those in thickly populated areas and living near vegetable markets.