The Madras high court on Friday directed the state government, Chennai corporation and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to immediately stop burning garbage at Pallikaranai yard.

The first bench comprising chief justice M. Y. Eqbal and justice T. S. Sivagnanam also directed the advocate general to immediately take instructions from TNPCB and the Mayor of Chennai corporation and filed the counter affidavit on June 27.

The bench passed the interim direction on a petition filed by advocate S. Viswanathan who sought to direct authorities to stop burning garbage there and provide medical assistance to the area residents besides finding a solution to the solid waste management problems of the city.

Posting the case hearing to June 27, the bench also observed that burning of garbage in various places in this state, particularly in Pallikaranai, has been a very serious issue, which resulted in causing lung diseases to the inhabitants of surrounding areas. The bench even suggested the AG to visit the yard.

Referring to a representation he made to the authorities concerned on June 4, 2011, in connection with the issue and a visit he made to the dumping yard following fire there last Saturday, petitioner Mr Viswanathan also prayed for directing the respondent state PWD secretary to constitute a fresh committee to file a report pertaining to the issue.

Elaborating on the problems caused by last week’s fire at the yard, the petitioner also pleaded the court to direct the award of compensation to people affected by the negligence and inaction of respondents.

The petitioner also submitted before the bench that the burning of wastes not only caused health problems to adjoining residents but also affected traffic flow.

CCTVs will not serve any purpose: Activists

Even as Chennai corporation has planned to step up vigil by setting up surveillance cameras at all dumping yards in the wake of recent fire accident at Pallikaranai dumpyard, environmental activists opine that installation of cameras and stringent patrolling will hardly serve any purpose.

The need of the hour is source segregation of waste and public awareness on waste management and biodiversity conservation, say experts.

“Monitoring the dumpyards through CCTV cameras makes no sense at all. Fire at landfills is not caused by humans, it is induced by methane present in the garbage mounds,” said Jeyshree Venkatesan, an activist with Care Earth, an NGO.

Terming the corporation’s move mere eyewash, G. Krishnamurthy a resident of Medavakkam, said, “Better laws must be introduced to crack down on offenders. Moreover, awareness must be created among public on waste management and the use of plastic.”

“The city corporation lacks technical expertise in the area of waste management. It is a social issue, which requires a holistic approach.

Just as rainwater harvesting, waste segregation must be made mandatory by the state government,” said Dharmesh Shah, an environmental activist.

“Public should also co-ordinate with the civic body by segregating the garbage at source, before it reaches the garbage bin. If the waste gets mixed up, it becomes very difficult to segregate,” he added.