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Address waste management challenges in Coimbatore’s peri-urban and rural areas, say activists

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Waste piled up at the waste management facility in Sulur Panchayat in Coimbatore on Monday.

Waste piled up at the waste management facility in Sulur Panchayat in Coimbatore on Monday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Social activists in Coimbatore have urged the district administration to tackle the waste management challenges in peri-urban and rural areas, highlighting the lack of infrastructure and awareness among local bodies.

S. Sivaraja, secretary of the Koushika Neer Karangal Trust, noted that over 90% of the panchayats in the district did not follow proper solid waste management practices. “While households often compost kitchen waste, plastic waste is dumped in abandoned quarries, wells or river channels, or burned. Panchayat officials frequently cite lack of funds and space as barriers to implementing waste management measures,” he said.

Mr. Sivaraja proposed that the district administration establish a model panchayat for solid waste management to serve as an example for others. He suggested that neighbouring panchayats collaborated to set up shared waste management facilities to reduce costs. “Processed waste can be sold as manure, and recyclable materials can generate revenue, creating a sustainable system,” he added.

Another activist pointed out the lack of awareness among panchayat officials and residents as a significant issue, with improper disposal negatively impacting air quality, groundwater, and ecosystems.

“Environmental concerns have also arisen near Sulur Air Force Station, where open dumping has led to plastic waste flying into the airbase, causing disturbances. Notices have been issued to panchayats for failing to collect waste, as inadequate door-to-door collection forces residents to resort to dumping,” said environmentalist Nitu Joseph. She added that CSR-funded equipment provided to local bodies often went underutilised due to lack of manpower.

District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati said, “The population in peri-urban village panchayats is rising due to their proximity to the city, which has led to challenges with waste management and labour. MGNREGA only provides ₹5,000 per worker, which is insufficient for these areas. To address this, the Central government has allocated ₹10 lakh under a special project specifically for peri-urban village panchayats to resolve the labour issue. We are also working on space constraints, and once the labour challenge is addressed, space issues and other aspects can be managed.”



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