Place beneath Palakkarai bridge has become a waste dump

Though the civic body clears the garbage periodically, the practice continues

The public space beneath Palakkarai overbridge has become a garbage dump, making it difficult for people to move around.

Over the last few months, the garbage mounds have become bigger. The heaps mainly contain construction debris, domestic waste, electrical waste, and even wooden cupboards. Though the civic body clears the waste at periodic intervals, people continue to dump the waste there.

According to R. Ahamed, a resident, garbage is dumped every single day, especially at night. "Nobody is mindful of the bridge and they dispose of of the trash just like that. I have seen people coming here purposefully to dump the waste, but I have never seen conservancy workers clearing it."

Road users and residents fling their waste and over a period of time the waste materials have become huge mounds, much to the chagrin of people who visit a ration shop, which is situated under the bridge, amid the stench.

Kumar, another resident, said, “Even though there are waste bins, people still dump the garbage on the road. The place has become dirty and the garbage attracts stray animals which rummage through the waste and people are scared of passing through this place.”

The volume of waste being dumped has gradually increased in the past few months and the service roads are now clogged by the debris. "Four-wheelers parked on the sides of the bridge further encroach the carriage space, causing difficulty for passers by. People have parked their vehicles and tricycle rickshaws and are using the area as a resting spot,” said Murugan, another resident.