Civic authorities in Puducherry are grappling with vacant plots that have become informal dumping sites for household waste and construction debris. With the rainy season approaching, officials are concerned not only about sanitation: thick vegetation and stagnant water can create mosquito-breeding conditions and raise the risk of vector-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya.
Residents in several neighbourhoods say plots left unattended for years are overgrown and strewn with plastic, bottles and other waste. Rainwater collects on the land, creating further conditions for mosquitoes. Despite repeated appeals from municipal authorities, some owners have not cleaned or fenced their properties, leaving them accessible as dumping grounds.
An official said indiscriminate dumping by the public was largely responsible for the worsening conditions. A private contractor responsible for solid-waste collection operates door-to-door vehicles, but some residents still leave bundled waste at street corners or on vacant land instead of handing it to collection workers. The civic body has begun issuing advisories asking owners to maintain their plots and has urged residents not to use vacant land or roadsides as dumps.
Oulgaret Municipal Commissioner R. Arun Ayyavu said the local body had identified more than 5,000 vacant plots within its limits. Establishing ownership is a major obstacle: details are unavailable in several cases. Attempts by sanitation workers or municipal staff to clear plots can also lead to disputes when properties are involved in court cases or ownership litigation.
Sanitary inspectors have been instructed to collect addresses and available owner details so notices can be issued. Residents can report the problem to the civic body at 0413-2200382 or by WhatsApp at 75981 71674.