Perungudi on Old Mahabalipuram Road, now known as Rajiv Gandhi Road, was more like a village. As the population ­increased, more areas came to be urbanised and small manufacturing units were started. Subsequently, residential colonies were developed.

In course of time with vast open land, it became a garbage dumping yard. The dumping of garbage for more than ten years has polluted the entire colony.

Residents say children are often falling sick with cold and ­malaria due to the pollution, and the dump is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and, besides all this, we face a dog menace too, says B. Radhika, a resident of Perungudi for the last four years.

I have been born and brought up in Perungudi. Earlier it was like a clean village. We are waiting for the dumping yard to be shifted from here to have clean surrounding, says 30-year-old Y. Mary who has two school-going children.

Recently there was a fire at the garbage dumping yard at Perungudi. Even though the fire was put out by the Corporation, the dump yard still continues to smoulder, emanating toxic gases from the burning garbage. This is a health hazard.

This goes on throughout the night, affecting the residents ­living in colonies which are in proximity to the dump yard.

The vast area comprising the dump yard and the adjoining lake has potential for development as a huge park with facilities like walkers’ paths in the midst of green fields and trees and boating in the lake. The lake is also visited by birds. Eventually, the park is sure to attract a lot of visitors from all over the city, particularly during weekends.

Places such as these have been converted into parks in other countries. Hopefully, environmentalists will welcome the suggestion and the authorities will shift the dump yard and convert this as an open recreational space, says Siddharth Kumar. – (Courtesy: Adyar Times).

Following the Waterfowls

• The Asian Waterfowl Census 2014 was conducted in Tamil Nadu in the wetlands around Chennai, Madurai, Tuticorin, and Theni. Thirtyeight wetlands were covered. Four wetlands were dry. Two were over-flooded, and 27 had normal levels of water. 136 species were sighted and the data revealed:

• Top 5 species present in most wetlands [Species – Number of ­Wetlands (1%)]

Indian Pond Heron – 24 (72%)

Little Cormorant – 24 (72%)

Little Egret – 23 (69%)

Little Grebe – 21 (63%)

Great Egret – 20 (60%)

• Top 3 near-threatened species present in most wetlands [Species – Number of Wetlands (1%)]

Back-headed lbis – 13 (39%)

Oriental Darter – 11 (33%)

Spot-billed Pelican – 11 (33%)

• Top 3 wintering ducks present in most wetlands [Species – Number of Wetlands (1%)]

Garganey – 12 (36%)

Northern Pintail – 12 (36%)

Northern Shoveler – 9 (27%)

• Top 1 wintering tern present in most wetlands [Species – Number of Wetlands (1%)]

Whiskered Tern – 19 (57%)

• Fulvous Whistling Duck was recorded in at least 5 wetlands in Chennai.

• Among diving ducks, ‘Common Pochard / Tufted Duck’ were sighted only at Manimangalam Lake, Chennai.

• Wintering Storks.

A pair of white storks were sighted at Kaveripakkam Lake near Kanchipuram.
– (Courtesy: Madras Naturalists’ Society).