Garbage dumped near the Lakkapuram Panchayat office in Modakkurichi taluk in Erode in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: GOVARTHAN M.
Indiscriminate dumping of garbage, mostly plastic waste, near the Lakkapuram panchayat office on the Muthur Road has raised concerns over sanitation and public health, particularly as a health sub-centre and an anganwadi centre function on the premises.Heaps of plastic bags, food wrappers, disposable cups, bottles and other non-biodegradable waste were found dumped outside the panchayat office. Residents said similar dumping was taking place at several locations between Solar and Lakkapuram, within the panchayat limits. Residents attributed the problem partly to irregular collection of solid waste by the local body. They alleged that garbage collection was not carried out on a fixed schedule, with the interval between collections ranging from a few days to more than a week in some areas. The inconsistency, they said, had led people to dump waste along roadsides.However, road users and residents said the issue also reflected a lack of civic responsibility. They pointed out that waste was being dumped near institutions frequented by children and patients, despite repeated appeals to maintain cleanliness.The health sub-centre caters to residents of the surrounding villages, while the anganwadi centre serves young children. The accumulation of garbage near the facilities has created an unhygienic environment and raised concerns about possible health risks.Residents said the dominance of plastic waste in the dumped garbage was particularly worrying as it posed environmental hazards and was difficult to dispose of safely. They urged the panchayat to ensure regular door-to-door collection of solid waste and take steps to prevent roadside dumping.They also called for stricter enforcement against violators, and awareness campaigns to encourage proper waste disposal practices and improve civic responsibility among the public. Published - June 23, 2026 05:51 pm IST
