Plastic waste clogs city canals and open drains

Though there is a ban on plastic carry bags in Tiruchi, open drainage, storm water and underground drainage canals continue to be clogged due to the indiscriminate dumping of plastic.

There is not a single canal that is free of plastics. Plastic materials particularly carry bags and plastic bottles clog the drains.

The problem is acute in the canals located in Cantonment.

Due to the floating population that visits the Central Bus Stand, a canal on Williams Road has become an eyesore due to this menace. The canal that starts from Bharathidasan Road and extends beyond Williams Road is full of plastic bags, plastic plates, bottles, footwear and food waste.

This due to a large number of roadside eateries, petty shops, commercial complexes, restaurants and hotels around the bus stand that attracts thousands of commuters daily.

Besides, a few Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlets are also functioning in the area.

Locals say that people of all walks of life including shoppers, customers and passengers recklessly dump waste in the canals.

They allege that due to the indiscriminate dumping of plastics not only do sewerage lines burst but also there is overflow of waste water on the roads.

“The sewage is clogged at several points because of waste particularly plastics. It has not been cleared for long,” says A. Mahalingam of Williams Road.

Several people, who visit the neighbouring Tasmac shops also threw empty bottles, he added.

Stating that same condition was prevailing in other areas, he said that the Corporation must carry out a comprehensive drainage cleaning drive so as to remove all garbage in the drainage and storm water canals.