Once a vibrant community space where children played and families gathered, the Moovar Nagar playground in Pozhichalur near Pallavaram has now become an environmental nightmare for local residents. What was once a go-to recreational spot has transformed into an illegal dumpyard over several months, with mounting garbage heaps creating serious health and environmental concerns.
Growing Waste Crisis in Developing Neighborhood
Pozhichalur, which functions under the St Thomas Mount panchayat union and lies just 15 minutes from Chennai airport, presents a stark contrast between development and basic infrastructure failure. Despite being a fast-growing neighborhood with new apartments emerging and plot prices soaring above 1.5 crore rupees, the area continues to struggle with fundamental waste management systems.
Residents point fingers at the irregular door-to-door garbage collection conducted by the local panchayat. The situation has become so dire that workers have begun burying waste directly inside the playground to create additional space for future garbage loads.
Alarming Statistics and Local Impact
The scale of the waste problem in the region is substantial. Areas under Tambaram corporation generate an average of 430 tonnes of waste every day, with approximately 120 tonnes originating specifically from Pallavaram and surrounding pockets.
While private company Our Land Engineering Works maintains regular waste collection from Tambaram and Chromepet, the lack of consistent service in interior streets including Andal Nagar and Cowl Bazaar has forced locals to resort to dumping waste in vacant plots, with the playground becoming the primary victim.
Resident Testimonies and Environmental Hazards
J S Kanna, a resident of Moovar Nagar, provided disturbing details about the situation. "The playground's frontage spans about 300 meters long. Across this entire stretch, garbage isn't merely dumped but actively buried," he explained. "Tambaram corporation officials visit once every 10 days and burn the accumulated waste, creating additional air pollution hazards. With recent rainfall over the past two days, the stench has intensified dramatically."
Environmental activist Darwin Annadurai highlighted the grave groundwater contamination risks. "Proper landfills utilize specific polymers to prevent leachate from polluting groundwater, but vacant plots and playgrounds lack these protective measures," he warned. "While clay soil might slow the contamination process, the prevalent alluvial and red soil in the area offers minimal protection against toxic seepage into groundwater sources."
Official Response and Future Actions
Block development officer of St Thomas Mount panchayat union, Nirmal Kumar, acknowledged receiving complaints from distressed residents. He assured that "action will be taken at the earliest to remove the waste and restore the playground" to its original purpose.
The transformation of this essential community space into a hazardous waste zone underscores the pressing need for systematic waste management solutions in Chennai's rapidly developing suburbs. As the neighborhood continues to attract new residents and investments, the resolution of this environmental crisis remains critical for the health and wellbeing of the entire community.
