The Hindu 03.09.2009
Crackdown on garbage dumping in drains
Special Correspondent
COIMBATORE: The City Health Department in the Coimbatore Corporation launched on Tuesday a crackdown on commercial establishments dumping garbage in storm water drains.
A team led by Assistant City Health Officer R. Sumathi collected Rs.6,000 as fine from 60 shops, at the rate of Rs.100 each, for dumping packing materials and tea cups into the storm water drain on Dr. Nanjappa Road.
The action was taken on direction from Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra, as the civic body was upset at the drains being choked with garbage in just a few weeks or even days after the removal waste and silt.
“We have levied a fine of only Rs.100 because of the first time offence. The Commissioner has asked us to do a close follow-up to see whether the shops repeat the offence. If they do, we will collect Rs.1,000 from each of them,” Dr. Sumathi said.
The official said the shops tried to deny that they had dumped or swept the waste into the drains. But, a team of health officials had already photographed this act and confronted the shop owners with the pictures, Dr. Sumathi said.
Apart from Dr. Nanjappa Road, Mr. Mishra had identified for the special drive the following roads that had many commercial establishments: D.B. Road, 100 Feet Road, Cross-Cut Road, Oppanakara Street, N.H. Road, Variety Hall Road, Sathyamangalam Road, Avanashi Road, Tiruchi Road and Marudamalai Road.
The storm water drains, constructed to drain rain water from the roads, were filled with all kinds of discarded packing material. This choked the flow of water. The Corporation had cleaned the drains as roads were getting flooded even in short spells of rain.
“We will sustain the drive on all these roads to prevent the abuse of the drains,” Dr. Sumathi said. The health department staff used mega phones during Tuesday’s drive to name the shop publicly and mention the offence committed by it.
The shops argued that they would not have dumped garbage in the drain had adequate number of bins been provided on the road by the Corporation.
The civic body officials said only community bins could be provided. The shops would have to walk up to these to dispose of garbage. Otherwise, all these establishments should have two bins, one to store biodegradable and another for bio-degradable waste.
Dr. Sumathi and her team distributed among shopkeepers handbills containing guidelines on storing and disposal of waste.
