Madurai: Residents of Anuppanadi Canal Street in Ward 46 near Balarengapuram have demanded immediate action against a garbage dump that has narrowed their road and left the neighbourhood reeking of foul smell.Residents say garbage dumped along the roadside has occupied nearly half the carriageway, posing health risks and making it difficult for pedestrians and motorists to use the road. They alleged that repeated complaints to the Madurai corporation and local elected representatives have failed to bring a lasting solution.A resident, A Bonyface, told TOI that the corporation’s garbage collection vehicles arrive very early in the morning, forcing many residents to leave their waste on the roadside later in the day. “We have submitted representations to the ward councillor and even the MLA, but no action has been taken so far,” he said.Another resident said the unhygienic conditions were particularly worrying as schoolchildren frequently used the road. He urged the corporation to implement a permanent solution instead of temporary clean-up drives.Following fresh complaints on Sunday, sanitary workers inspected the area. A corporation truck later removed part of the accumulated waste, but residents said a substantial quantity of garbage remained on the roadside.A senior corporation official told TOI that two garbage collection vehicles were deployed in the locality. He said the street was covered first during the collection round, making it difficult to collect waste deposited later in the day.“If dustbins are placed in the area, commercial establishments are likely to use them as well. They would quickly overflow, leading to more garbage being dumped around them,” the official said. He added that the remaining garbage on the street would be cleared and that the corporation would work towards a permanent solution.
