Deccan Chronicle 11.09.2009

Garbage burning chokes Ambattur

Chennai
Sept. 10: K. Suresh, a peon working in a private company is very worried about the future of his six-year-old daughter who is asthmatic.

According to the resident of Nehru street near Ambattur lake, the smoke from the burning of garbage at the municipal dump yard is seriously affecting the health of his daughter, who at times has to gasp for fresh air.

“The situation has forced my wife and me to stay alert 24/7 as our daughter Lakshmi may face breathing problems anytime. The poisonous smoke and dust that she is forced to inhale has made her weak,” Suresh said. His neighbour G. Sadagopan said that people living in the residential colonies in the vicinity of the dump yard, are experiencing persistent cough, running eyes and throat irritation. “It is a municipal dump yard and the authorities are to be blamed for the present situation. Even though the problem has been persisting for quite sometime and numerous complaints have been lodged, the issue remains unattended,” Sadagopan said.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, environmental activist Nithyanand Jayaraman said that since smoke emitting from the dump yards contains heavy metals, every system in the human body gets affected, the most vulnerable being the respiratory system. “The sad fact is that children are more prone to get affected,” Nithyanand pointed out.

Accepting that the practice of garbage dumping and burning occurs in the area, Ambattur municipal chairman K. N. Sekar blamed it on rag pickers.
“For salvaging iron and aluminium rag pickers set fire to garbage. Though we have walls around the yard and guards during the day, these miscreants sneak in at night and create problems. The municipality is seriously considering the issue. We already have employed several methods to put out the fires. We are also planning to increase the number of guards,” Mr Sekar said.