Chennai: A Greater Chennai Corporation waste segregation unit has been steadily eating up space on Sridevikuppam Main Road at Valasaravakkam, inconveniencing motorists and residents.Branching off from Arcot Road, the area houses small-scale industries, independent homes, gated communities and a TNHB plot. Waste segregation happens on the roadside and a portion adjoining the corner has been cordoned off with kerbs to accommodate sanitation workers. Battery-operated vehicles are lined up on one end of the road and a few garbage trucks drop by occasionally. This has shrunk the width of the road. Two buildings are being constructed — one of them blocking the way to a free-to-use public toilet. “Until two months ago, the road was wider,” said Gnanasekaran, who works at a private gear factory in the area.Gated communities and shops have flagged accident risks. “Food and liquid waste leak onto the road, making the tar damp. The workers cover them up with sand, causing two-wheelers to skid,” said R Swami, a resident. Residents also said that the presence of the facility hindered the development of the TNHB land in the vicinity, and called for relocation.A corporation engineer said plans were made to relocate the facility to free up the carriageway. “It was decided that the talks will continue after elections. As of now, waste collected from two zonal divisions are segregated here. We are searching for another location too,” the engineer said.Assistant executive engineer Saravanan, however, said the plan was unlikely to work and that the facility was not harming anyone. “We only operate from the road side. Even the new constructions — a rest house for conservancy workers — is located at one end of the road and does not reduce the carriageway. It is our land and we can use it however we deem fit,” he said. Zonal officer Purushothaman was unavailable for comment.
