Residents in Coimbatore’s peri-urban areas flag hygiene concerns over waste dumped at cremation grounds

Residents in Coimbatore’s peri-urban areas have raised concerns that cremation grounds are being used to dump and segregate daily waste, which poses hygiene risks.

Residents said waste generated in Ashokapuram, Kurudampalayam panchayat and Gudalur Municipality, which lie along the city’s northern periphery, is transported to the cremation grounds in these areas and dumped.

“The Kurudampalayam panchayat collects about 10 tonnes of waste every day and dumps it in front of the cremation ground, near Maruthi Nagar. The accumulated waste rots, emits a foul smell and affects hygiene in the area,” said S. Malarvizhi, a resident.

In Ashokapuram panchayat, waste is dumped on the cremation ground behind State Bank Colony, said Vanaja, a resident living near the site. She added that unknown lorries also dump waste and it is often set on fire. “Because large quantities of waste are dumped here, the use of the cremation ground has declined, and it has gradually turned into dumping sites,” she said.

Similarly, waste from Gudalur municipality is dumped on the cremation ground close to Samichettipalayam, and in Bilichi panchayat, dumping takes place on the cremation ground on Mathampalayam Main Road, said Sathiskumar, a resident of Periyanaickenpalayam.

An official from the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) said several peri-urban panchayats and town panchayats lack adequate land for solid waste management. With rising population and increasing waste generation, proposals to set up waste facilities near residential areas face objections. Portions of cremation grounds are used temporarily for dumping and segregation, the official said.

The official added that plans are under way to set up resource recovery parks for segregation and processing of dry, wet, garden and sanitary waste. These centres will be equipped with baling machines, shredders, dewatering units and an incinerator. Preliminary work has begun to identify suitable locations and prepare detailed project reports.