Alert public stopped a Corporation vehicle from dumping construction and debris waste on the bunds of the Valankulam wetland here on Thursday.

According to S. Shanawaz, a resident of Ukkadam, who was riding his auto rickshaw towards Coimbatore Medical College Hospital from Ukkadam By-Pass, noticed a Corporation vehicle – used for public toilet maintenance work – trying to dump C&D waste.

He, along with some passersby, confronted the driver of the vehicle and thwarted his attempts.

“On the one hand the Corporation is trying to clean the lakes, but on the other, the contractors who are responsible of disposing the wastes are dumping it on wetland bunds,” alleged Shanawaz, who also an activist.

He further claimed that officials from the Corporation were not even aware that such illegal activities were being done under their umbrella.

According to sources, the Corporation has given the responsibility of clearing C&D waste from Government’s sanitary constructions in the city to contractors. However, their activities have not been monitored.

“This will create a bad impression about the Corporation while it is gearing up to submit the smart city plan report,” he claimed.

He further pointed out that the city, which had secured the 196th rank in the Swachh Bharath rankings announced by the Ministry of Urban Development in 2015, would find its place further down if such things like this continued.

“Officials should look into the issue immediately and make necessary corrections before our wetlands are completely filled with wastes,” he told the Covai Post.

Meanwhile, a higher official from the Corporation who visited the spot assured that action would be taken against the contractor for indulging in such activity. He also added that the stern steps would be taken to curb such activities in the future.