T’puram: Waste dumping continues unabated near the famed Beemapally mosque, with the city corporation squads failing to remove the accumulated garbage despite earlier assurances of action, leaving residents to suffer from foul odour and mounting health concerns.The persistence of the problem has raised questions about the effectiveness of the civic body’s waste management measures, even as the new corporation administration has announced initiatives to improve sanitation and tackle illegal waste disposal across the city.The dumping has been a long-standing problem in the coastal locality, where garbage is frequently discarded in public spaces and near residential areas. Sources said that the waste was being dumped on the premises near Beemapally Nursery School, despite interventions by the corporation and directions from statutory commissions. Residents, parents and teachers had raised concerns over the unhygienic surroundings, mosquito breeding and the risks posed to children.Despite assurances from officials that steps would be taken to address the issue, the accumulated waste remains at the site, while fresh dumping continues.Environmentalist Sanjeev S J said the corporation had failed to fulfil its responsibility.“If the authorities continue to remain inactive, the situation could escalate, and people may be forced to launch protests to get their grievances addressed,” he said.Residents demanded immediate removal of the accumulated garbage and effective monitoring to prevent fresh dumping. They also warned that continued inaction could lead to confrontation with the authorities.The continuing problem has also exposed the gap between the corporation’s waste management plans and their implementation at the local level. While the civic body has announced measures to strengthen waste collection, processing and enforcement against illegal dumping, the failure to clear an identified dumping spot has raised concerns about its ability to address persistent sanitation problems.Meanwhile, a senior corporation health official said the issue of indiscriminate dumping remained a challenge and that public cooperation was necessary to prevent recurrence. “We are ready to remove it and have removed the waste several times in the past. But someone is dumping waste there repeatedly. The squads could not catch them as they are influential and have criminal track records,” the official said. However, residents are awaiting concrete action to clear the existing waste and ensure that the location does not turn into a dumping ground again.
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