Residents of Velapadi Village Protest Garbage Dumping on Irrigation Tank
Residents of Velapadi village near Arani town in Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, blocked the Arani-Vandavasi Main Road on Tuesday to protest the dumping of garbage on an irrigation tank that is crucial for their farming and livelihood. The 150-acre irrigation tank is a lifeline for farmers in at least eight nearby villages, including Velapadi, Samanthavadi, Kalpoondi, Meyyur, and Iyyampalayam, providing water for irrigation and supporting groundwater recharge. The tank also helps farmers earn supplemental income through fishing and provides water for local communities through deep borewells sunk on its bund.
However, the local municipality has allegedly turned the tank into an open dumpsite, posing environmental and health concerns for the community. Residents claim that conservancy workers regularly dump garbage on the bund of the tank and often burn the waste, releasing toxic fumes into the air. Municipal officials acknowledged the issue, citing a lack of a permanent composting facility within town limits and financial constraints in transporting garbage to a designated landfill.
The district administration has allotted five acres of land for the municipality to run a compost yard, but the site is located approximately 30 kilometers away from Arani town, making transportation of garbage expensive. The municipality also faces challenges in handling waste generated by hotels and restaurants, which exceeds 100 kilograms per day. Residents have repeatedly petitioned municipal officials to stop dumping garbage in the irrigation tank, as it affects their health, especially children and senior citizens. The smoke from garbage burning causes respiratory problems and other ailments.
In response to the protest, Arani taluk police and civic officials visited the site and pacified the agitated residents. Municipal officials removed the dumped garbage using earthmovers and other vehicles and assured that dumping of waste will not occur again. The incident highlights the importance of proper waste management and the need for sustainable solutions to address the environmental and health concerns associated with garbage disposal.
