Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

`Green squad' receives more complaints about civic issues

By Akila Dinakar

CHENNAI June 22. The `Flying Green Squad' inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has been getting more complaints regarding sewage and civic issues, something that the corporation, municipalities and civic bodies alone can handle.

Out of around 50 complaints received since June 8, overflowing sewage, dumping and burning of garbage in encroached lake areas form a majority ones.

While most of the complainants prefer to remain anonymous, calling themselves ``residents'' of the problem area, there are quite a few who phone in their complaints with their name and contact address.

Whether it is the case of overflowing sewage water from the Vellore Lakshmi Ammal Kalyana Chatram, Mylapore, sewage discharge in Korattur by the Ambattur Municipality or dumping of garbage by slum dwellers in the Velachery, Chitlapakkam or Hastinapuram lakes or burning of garbage at the New Fire Station, Korukkupet, the TNPCB has to ask the complainants to approach the Corporation, municipality or town panchayat. Staff of the Directorate of Health Transport, Guindy, charged that a club was dumping food waste in the directorate compound.

Most of the complaints on dumping and pollution caused by vehicles are beyond the penal powers of the board, officials said. Noise pollution from loudspeakers from a church near the Sekar Emporium in Kodambakkam, loading and unloading operations of Pepsi godowns on Gengu Reddy Road, at Egmore and Nungambakkam, are some of the complaints.

A resident from Alwarpet reported about noise pollution from the construction of a pile foundation by flat promoters, while the residents of Tirusoolam said stone crushing units were causing air and noise pollution.

A resident of K.K.Nagar brought to the board's notice about tree cutting by the staff of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board. There were a few complaints of bad odour from a buttermilk factory in the residential part of Perambur and a bakery in Villivakkam.

There was also a request to the green squad to protect the newly-planted saplings in Alwarpet from being destroyed by cattle.

Following a complaint from a resident of Old Washermenpet on air and dust pollution caused by cement bags and blue metal, the squad inspected the spot and gave instructions to the agency to remove the materials. For a complaint regarding burning of corrugated boxes and plastic wastes, the team spoke to the manager and advised them not to burn the saame. A beef stall, that was throwing waste meat on the road at Ambedkar Nagar, Velachery, has been closed.

There were also some complaints, which no department could do much about like the one made by a resident of Mambalam. He said water for washing a neighbouring flat was being let out on the road.

There were also reports of noise pollution from building demolition at night at Kesavaperumalpuram in Raja Annamalaipuram or lorry and heavy vehicle repair shops in Mandaveli, Arumbakkam and Royapuram.

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