Coimbatore Residents Protest Open Waste Dumping and Burning in Pattanam
For the past three years, residents of Pattanam village panchayat in Sulur block, Coimbatore, have been grappling with a severe environmental and health crisis due to open dumping and burning of waste. The issue centers around an abandoned stone quarry behind the Vasudevan Temple and areas near a waterbody along the Vellalore–Pattanam main road.
Health Hazards and Environmental Impact
Local residents report that unsegregated biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste is routinely dumped by a section of the community. The panchayat administration exacerbates the problem by setting the garbage on fire without removing it. This practice releases thick smoke that envelops the area, causing significant air pollution and breathing difficulties for many residents.
J Vasanthakumar, a 30-year-old resident, highlights the lack of action from authorities despite multiple representations. "The accumulated waste is often burned at night, leading to health problems from inhaling smoke and poisonous gases," he says. Residents have raised the issue at panchayat and gram sabha meetings over the past three years, but their efforts have been in vain.
Panchayat's Response and Resident Demands
The Pattanam village panchayat, which includes Pattanam, Pattanam Pudur, and Nagammanayakanpalayam villages, has a population of 38,000 spread across 12 wards. When residents confronted the administration, they were asked to suggest alternative dumping sites instead of receiving solutions.
Frustrated, the residents have now appealed to the district administration for immediate intervention. They demand proper segregation of waste, disposal using scientific methods, and a complete ban on open burning of garbage in public places.
Official Stance and Proposed Measures
When contacted, the panchayat president and administration officers declined to comment. However, Sulur block development officer R Muthuraju stated that no formal complaints had been received so far. He promised to visit the area personally and take necessary steps, including installing surveillance cameras to control illegal dumping.
Muthuraju also urged residents to segregate their garbage and hand it over to sanitary workers during door-to-door collection drives. This move aims to address the root cause of the issue and promote better waste management practices in the community.
