Madurai residents raise concern over burning of waste

Madurai: Piles of waste that have gone without being picked up are being set on fire on regular basis in several areas across the city, including the Vaigai river, posing a health hazard to residents.Waste dumped on the banks of the Vaigai and in the river also poses a threat to quality of water, making it harder to remove, and as a result, piled waste is set on fire.M Rajan, founder of Vagai Nathi Makkal Iyakkam, said the waste dumped into the river requires heavy vehicles and equipment to clear, costing both time and money. “So, waste is allowed to pile up in the river and set on fire after some days, repeating the cycle again,” he said.Rajan added that waste is also burnt on other water channels in the city. “Single-use plastic bags block channels, making them the biggest pollutants. When plastic items are burnt, thick black smoke is released leaving a terrible smell that stays in the area for hours,” he said.Sellur residents are among the most affected by waste burning. “Inhaling acrid smoke results in breathing issues, long after the waste is burned,” said S Kumar, a Sellur resident.

“It is difficult to tell who is responsible for the waste burning because usually there is no one present once the fire has started.”A senior corporation official said such waste burning incidents have come down after CCTV cameras were installed near burning sites and fines were levied against offenders. “A lot of times, waste burning happens at night, making it difficult to identify those responsible,” the official said, adding that waste-cleaning drives in water channels and the Vaigai river will reduce the issue of waste burning.