In a significant development, Kinathukadavu MLA S Dhamodharan has raised strong objections to the Coimbatore Municipal Corporation's project of building kennels for stray dogs at the Vellalore dumpyard site. The AIADMK legislator has formally requested the district administration to stop the construction immediately.
MLA's Inspection and Immediate Opposition
On Saturday, the MLA conducted a detailed inspection of an existing animal birth control centre at the Vellalore dumpyard. This visit came at a time when the corporation is actively constructing additional kennels at the location. The new facilities are intended to house nearly 750 stray dogs, as part of a broader initiative following a Supreme Court order to remove strays from public spaces.
Following his inspection, Dhamodharan wasted no time in writing a formal letter to the District Collector. In his communication, he explicitly requested the collector to initiate a complete halt to the ongoing construction and to prohibit any further work at the site.
Grounds for Objection: Pollution and Health Hazards
The MLA's opposition is not without substantial reasoning. His letter highlights two critical and pre-existing environmental crises linked to the dumpyard. Firstly, he pointed out the severe issue of foul smell emanating from the site, which reportedly affects numerous villages within a 10-kilometer radius.
Secondly, he underscored the serious problem of groundwater contamination extending to about two kilometers around the dumpyard. Dhamodharan argued that establishing kennels and housing a large population of dogs at this already compromised location would only intensify the unhygienic conditions, posing greater health risks to the surrounding communities.
Violation of NGT Directives
A major pillar of the MLA's argument rests on directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT). He reminded the collector of the NGT's 2018 ban on any further activities at the Vellalore dumpyard. The tribunal had also issued clear orders for the clearance of legacy waste from the site.
By initiating the kennel construction project, the Coimbatore corporation is potentially acting against these judicial orders. The MLA has therefore urged the district collector to intervene decisively in the matter, enforce the NGT's rulings, and stop the civic body's construction plans for the stray dog shelters.
The situation presents a complex challenge for local authorities, who must balance the mandate to manage the stray dog population humanely with the imperative to address long-standing environmental violations and public health concerns at the Vellalore dumpyard site.
