Tension prevailed for some time near Karungalpalayam in Erode on Friday after officials attempted to restrict access to the road along the Kalingarayan Canal bund following complaints of garbage dumping in the area.
More than 400 families residing in the interior areas depend on the bund road as their primary access route. The stretch has been in regular use by residents for several years.
Acting on complaints that garbage was being dumped along the canal bund, Public Works Department (PWD) officials installed iron posts on either side of the entrance and attempted to fix a chain barrier to regulate movement. According to officials, the road will remain open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with access restricted during the night hours.
On learning about the move, over 100 residents gathered at the spot and raised objections with the PWD authorities. They submitted a representation urging the department to withdraw the decision, stating that closure of the road at night would severely affect emergency movement.
Residents pointed out that the bund road is the only access to the locality and that locking it after 9 p.m. would cause hardship, particularly during medical emergencies. They expressed concern that even 108 ambulance services might not be able to reach the area, if the road was closed. Following the protest, officials temporarily halted the move to fix the chain barrier.
Residents also urged the authorities to take steps to prevent garbage dumping without restricting public access. They further demanded that the badly damaged, pothole-ridden road be repaired and relaid at the earliest.
Published – February 13, 2026 08:08 pm IST
