Greater Chennai Corporation Cracks Down on Debris Dumping Hotspots

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has identified 25 hotspots where construction debris is regularly dumped across the city. GCC Commissioner J. Radhakrishnan stated that those responsible, including private parties and government contractors, have been heavily fined for this illegal activity. Residents have complained about repeated dumping of debris near parks, Metro Rail stations, and other public places. Social media has been flooded with complaints about debris being illegally dumped near places like Vadapalani Metro station, Mambalam Canal, and several other parts of T. Nagar.

According to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) by-laws, violators can be fined ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000. The rise in real estate development has exacerbated the problem, with the Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (CREDAI) attributing the issue to the recent real estate market boom.

The GCC has designated dumping areas zone-wise and has outsourced the collection and transportation of construction and debris (C&D) waste in several zones. However, there is a need for better enforcement of bylaws and improved monitoring of violations, as well as increased manpower and budget allocation for effective management of debris-related issues, according to experts.