The Cheranellore panchayat, which lies to the north of Kochi city, is pock-marked by waste heaps in at least five spots, threatening the outbreak of diseases.
Despite anxious activists in the city ringing alarm bells, the panchayat authorities have been sitting on the issue for the past five months.
Office-bearers of residents associations complain that stray dogs are feasting on the wastes accumulated by the wayside and the canines have become a threat to public safety as well.
“There are around 20 dogs in one spot alone and the panchayat authorities are turning a blind eye to this fact despite our repeated complaints and reminders. I even sent complaints to health minister V.S. Sivakumar and panchayat minister M.K. Muneer, to no avail.
With the monsoon starting now, the threat of epidemics looms large,” said Mohan Mangattusseril, secretary, Panchayat Area Resident Welfare Association, Cheranellore.
Currently, waste is heaped at several places on the Chittoor-Cheranellore road alone. These include the spots near Chittoor bridge, Sharady bridge, near the Edayakkunnam Parthasarathy temple and even the panchayat office.
When contacted, panchayat superintendent Jayaraj said that the civic body still lacks a centralized mechanism to deal with waste.
“Several residents themselves find it convenient to throw waste into the open at night. We were exploring a long-term option and bio-gas plants for residents, but they have not worked out yet.
“Now we have been able to get a plot of land to dispose the waste. Next week we hope to get a couple of workers to remove earth from the land and then dump the waste and cover it,” he said.