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Erode Dump Yard Fouls Water, Chokes Residents
31 Jul
Summary
- Groundwater turns yellow and smells due to waste dump leachate.
- Dump yard operates for decades amid residential areas.
- Corporation aims for zero dumping within two years.
Residents of Vendipalayam and surrounding areas in Erode have reported that groundwater has turned yellow and emits a foul odor, attributing the contamination to leachate from the Erode Corporation's municipal solid waste dump yard. This dump yard has been operational for over six decades, situated amidst residential neighborhoods, despite repeated calls for its relocation.
Despite ongoing waste segregation efforts, significant quantities of unsegregated waste continue to accumulate at the site. This leads to pervasive foul odors and environmental pollution. The Corporation manages approximately 250 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, with about 100 tonnes of dry waste being transported to the Vendipalayam dump yard, which has accumulated an estimated over two lakh tonnes of dry waste.
The Corporation is currently preparing a detailed project report for a Bio-CNG plant to process biodegradable waste and generate energy. Officials stated that once this project is operational, fresh dumping will cease, and existing accumulated waste will undergo bio-mining. The civic body aims to achieve a zero-dumping policy within the next two years.
