Trichy: Non-biodegradable waste including plastic dumped in public places played a major role in several areas getting inundated in the city. During the storm water drains clearing drives recently, piles of plastic, glass and cloth waste that clogged the storm drains were retrieved.
Despite having three major rivers and several minor channels crisscrossing the city, several localities with storm water drains were marooned by rainwater last week due to poor maintenance. Plastic waste clogging the drains also contributed to inundation in localities that have drain infrastructure. Since the storm water drains were open in most parts of the city, commercial establishments and residents litter plastic waste in them, which affects the flow of water.
In the localities that have Tasmac liquor bars, Trichy Corporation workers have recovered several empty glass bottles and plastic cups that clogged the drains causing inundation. In Karumandapam, the run-off water that was supposed to merge with Koraiyar inundated RMS Colony and Kalyanasundaram Nagar due to the clogging.
“Earlier, garbage bins were placed in public places. Once they were removed, people started throwing waste on vacant spaces that eventually end up in drains,” S Thirugnanam, a resident of New Colony, Karumandapam, said.
“Placing slabs will hinder the cleaning and silt removal process. Anti-social elements are damaging the slabs to sell the iron rods in scrap yards, we are covering the drains in a phased manner,” a corporation official said.