Madurai has been grappling with severe waste management issues. The Corporation has been ranked low on cleanliness in recent times, raising concern and stressing the need for a robust mechanism in place.
Recently, expressing disappointment over the poor upkeep of the Smart Fruit Market and surrounding areas in Mattuthavani, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had pulled up Madurai Corporation.
Advocate S. Krishnakumar, the petitioner, complained that despite the Smart City initiative, the market was facing severe waste management problems and immediate attention was required. The court observed that there was a lack of urgency and interest shown by Madurai Corporation in the issue and imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on the civic body. The court directed the Corporation to clean the market and the surrounding areas forthwith and submit a report to the court.
Mr. Krishnakumar had pointed out the lack of adequate dustbins at the market and sought a direction to the authorities to install adequate dustbins at the market and to prevent vendors from dumping waste in the open outside the market.
The issue of poor waste management at the market was only the tip of the iceberg. Along the stretch from the market towards K. K. Nagar, on Lake View Road, garbage is dumped on the road margins. The dumper bins which were earlier placed at regular intervals have been removed. The public who were used to throwing the waste into these dumper bins, continue to throw the waste at the same place.
At least five dumper bins have been placed next to each other opposite the main entrance of Sundaram Park and three next to each other further down the stretch. With so many dumper bins being installed in one particular place, they are now overflowing with garbage. Stray cattle and dogs rummage through the pile and scatter them all over the place. Dogs bring the garbage bags into these residential areas. The situation gets worse when it rains with the place turning slushy. Sometimes the waste was also being set on fire raising concerns of health hazards.
Due to garbage accumulation, the 60-feet road in Anna Nagar has been reduced to a 20-feet passage causing heavy traffic congestion. Moreover, the unhygienic surroundings had become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, says a resident.
Similar such situations were being reported along the North Bank Road stretch. The waste, including chicken and fish waste were being dumped into Vaigai river and the overflowing waste also falls into the river. In Kulamangalam, land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department has turned into a dumping yard.
Advocate Seeni Syed Amma pointed out that as per the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, the District Collector should facilitate identification and allocation of suitable land for setting up solid waste processing and disposal facilities to local authorities. The performance of the local bodies should be reviewed, at least once in a quarter, on waste segregation, processing, treatment and disposal and corrective measures should be taken in consultation with the Commissioner or Director of Municipal Administration or Director of local bodies and secretary-in charge of the State Urban Development. There should be a continuous monitoring mechanism, she said.
As per Swachh Survekshan 2024-25 survey, Madurai was ranked 40th among the 40 cities in the country having a population of more than 10 lakh. However, the Corporation authorities pointed certain discrepancies in the parameters followed in the ranking system. There were improvements made which would be reflected in the next rankings, the authorities said.
Waste overflows into Vaigai river from the dust bin kept on North Bank Road near Kuruvikaran Salai bridge in Madurai.
| Photo Credit:
MOORTHY G
Madurai Corporation officials said that steps were underway to mitigate the situation. Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan said modern garbage transfer stations were coming up near Kochadai and Thathaneri. The garbage would be compressed, reducing the total volume and then would be taken to the Vellaikkal dumping yard.
A waste to energy plant would come up in the place to process waste, also paving the way for landfill rehabilitation. Bio-mining process was also being taken up, she said, adding that the onus lies with the people to take care of the environment. The main objective was to convert waste into energy, she added.
Deputy Mayor T. Nagarajan while refuting Swachh Survekshan survey findings, said necessary steps were being taken to mitigate the situation. As part of the measures, a spot will be identified zonal wise for collection of garbage. The waste collected area wise will be dumped at this spot, segregated and on the same day transported to Vellaikkal dumping yard.
The waste would in turn be used to generate renewable energy. A proposal was being worked out in this regard, he said. He added that the zonal wise spot would come up in places away from the residential block so that people are not affected and the place would be properly fenced so that stray animals do not enter the premises.
After Madurai Corporation assured the High Court that necessary steps would be taken to regularly clean and maintain the Smart Fruit Market and the surrounding areas in Mattuthavani, the court disposed of the public interest litigation petition.
The authorities submitted that proper fencing would be in place to prevent dumping of waste in the open. The vendors had been instructed to dump waste in the dustbins installed on the premises and fines would be imposed if waste was dumped in the open outside the market. An adequate number of conservancy workers would be deployed to clear the waste dumped in the dustbins, the court was told.
The court observed that it was necessary that initiatives were taken to sensitise the public and instil civic sense in them. Spot fines can be imposed only if periodical inspections were conducted, the court had observed.
Published – November 10, 2025 12:19 am IST
