Chennai’s water bodies, including lakes and canals, and their banks continue to be face open dumping.

A conservancy worker with Urbaser Sumeet, said, “The canal behind ESI hospital in Ashok Nagar is cleaned frequently. But people continue to throw waste around it. Sometimes, when the motorists throw the waste, it hits us and our uniforms are soiled. If even 75% of source segregation in done at the ward level, this can be reduced drastically.” The issue persists even in core areas like Kotturpuram near the bridge close to the Adyar River, Virugambakkam Canal, Kodungaiyur Lake, and in canals of Saidapet, he says.

M. Radhakrishnan of Arappor Iyakkam said lack of awareness of segregation and unchecked bulk waste from offices, restaurants, industries, and gated communities contribute to the issue. He urged inspections at meat shops and markets like M.G.R Nagar Market, where unsegregated waste is dumped by vendors near a canal. Bins near Alapakkam and Ramapuram lakes lead to waste falling into water bodies. Waste in stormwater drains clogs canals, especially during rains, he said and suggested piloting solid waste management in one ward and replicating Kumbakonam municipality’s model, recognised by NITI Aayog and the Centre for Science and Environment (CSC).

Vamsi Shankar Kapilavai, senior researcher at Citizen consumer and civic Action Group, said most of the waste is single-use plastic items and the harmful effects of these are known for all now. To plug usage, the factories manufacturing these items must be closed as no amount of monitoring can stop people from easily getting rid of plastic, he said.

S.Mohan, President of Environment Awareness and Protection Association said the Chennai Corporation should have a micro-level plan for recycling and composting in every area. “When the Corporation sets an example by setting up a dumpyard close to a water body, people would follow suit. The unauthorised vegetable vendors occupying the bunds of the Pallikaranai marshland indulge in open dumping and open defecation close to the water body. They must be shifted to a market. The freshwater marshland and all waterways leading to it must be monitored to avoid such incidents as this problem will endanger the life of the rare species,” he said.

D.Neelakannan, president of the Federation of Madhavaram Residents’ Welfare Associations, said the officials do not monitor the areas well. Compound walls were only recently added to the Puzhal Lake and Retteri Lake. “Fish market vendors close by dump the waste into the Retteri Lake directly often. An official with a team can keep an eye on the water bodies and canals,” he suggested.

A resident in Saidapet noted that the Adyar river bank close to the Madras Boat Club is clean while the banks near a Chennai Metro Water park in Ward 122 are ridden with household garbage and garden waste. This is due to a lack of monitoring, he added.

Wall against dumping

According to Mayor R. Priya, “It is the Chennai Corporation’s duty to clean the city, but it is the citizen’s responsibility to refrain from dumping in open areas. Even furniture and bathroom utilities were retrieved from canals while desilting.”

The Mayor stated that imposing fines is also tricky since people discard waste from higher floors which is tough to spot and impose penalties. “GCC is planning to raise walls and use a fencing closure in resident-heavy spots such as Virugambakkam canal, Otteri Nullah and internal canals of these water bodies. But they cannot also be completely closed as desilting will be tough. Corporation has identified canals close to residential areas where these infra need to be constructed and the file submitted by the Storm Water Drains Department is under processing for implementation after feasibility is checked,” she said.