Residents of Chinniyampalayam and commuters travelling along the arterial Avinashi Road in Coimbatore are forced to breathe noxious smoke of burnt plastic and other waste materials due to frequent burning of municipal solid waste.

The source of the smoke is a dumping site of the Chinniyampalayam panchayat, located around 50 metres off Avinashi Road, where garbage is being burnt even in the broad daylight.

Residents, who live close to the dumping site, say that they have become accustomed to the burning, adding that the panchayat has been following it as a garbage disposal method for several years.

When the wind blows in the north direction, the noxious smoke spreads to two major hotels and a few shops on Avinashi Road. Further, the smoke also poses potential danger to aviation security as the dumping site is situated right along the takeoff and landing path of Coimbatore airport’s runway, where aircraft fly at a very low altitude.

“Burning of waste is very frequent at the dumping site. If any of the residents ask, panchayat staff attribute it to accidental burning. But it happens repeatedly and poses a health hazard,” said a resident of the panchayat.

Senthil Babu, a regular commuter on the route, said the toxic smoke from the dumping site is often suffocating for motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.

Sources in the panchayat said that the local body was struggling to dispose of garbage, due to a lack of proper solid waste management facilities and adequate space.

The burning of garbage had also come to the attention of the Airport Authority of India, and the issue had been discussed in meetings of the Airfield Environment Management Committee.

District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar promised to look into the open burning of waste by the panchayat and get the issue rectified. He also said waste management facilities of peri-urban panchayats will be evaluated.

The results of the third synchronised population estimation of Nilgiri Tahr indicate signs of revival of the State animal in the fragmented habitats of the Coimbatore forest division.

As per the survey, which was held from April 24 to 27, Nilgiri Tahr population in the division was estimated to be 26 — with a lower limit 20 and upper limit 51. The estimated population was zero in 2024 and nine in 2025.

Out of the seven forest ranges in Coimbatore division, Nilgiri Tahrs inhabit select higher-altitude landscapes in the Madukkarai and Boluvampatti ranges. Their habitats are spread across Chinnaattumalai and Periyaattumalai in the Madukkarai range, and Kunjiranmudi, Kurudimalai and Vellingirimalai in the Boluvampatti range.

Sources involved in the survey said that there was no direct sighting of Nilgiri Tahrs when field staff surveyed habitats in Madukkarai range from April 24 to 27, said to be due to a forest fire on the contiguous Kerala side. The population, which roams through the Kerala and Tamil Nadu side, had reportedly moved to the lower elevations on the Kerala side due to the fire. Another round of survey was conducted for the blocks after the forest fire was contained and the staff had direct sighting of Nilgiri Tahrs from a distance through binoculars, said sources.

As per the survey report, the estimated increase in the population from zero to 26 from 2024 to 2026 indicates either improved population estimation efforts or recolonisation of suitable habitats.

It stated that the estimated population in the fragmented habitats such as Coimbatore, Kodikanal, Theni, Ambasamudram, Kanniyakumari divisions and isolated population in other Nilgiri Tahr holding divisions, with less than 30 individuals requiring immediate habitat intervention. The report suggested that reduction in anthropogenic pressure, habitat enrichment, establishment of corridors by removal of invasive plants and population reintroduction can be carried out to restore the population.

The results of the third synchronised population estimation of Nilgiri Tahr indicate signs of revival of the State animal in the fragmented habitats of the Coimbatore Forest Division.

As per the survey, which was held from April 24 to 27, Nilgiri Tahr population in the division was estimated to be 26 — with a lower limit 20 and upper limit 51. The estimated population was zero in 2024 and nine in 2025.

Out of the seven forest ranges in Coimbatore division, Nilgiri Tahrs inhabit select higher-altitude landscapes in the Madukkarai and Boluvampatti ranges. Their habitats are spread across Chinnaattumalai and Periyaattumalai in the Madukkarai range, and Kunjiranmudi, Kurudimalai and Vellingirimalai in the Boluvampatti range.

Sources involved in the survey said that there was no direct sighting of Nilgiri Tahrs when field staff surveyed habitats in Madukkarai range from April 24 to 27, said to be due to a forest fire on the contiguous Kerala side. The population, which roams through the Kerala and Tamil Nadu side, had reportedly moved to the lower elevations on the Kerala side due to the fire. Another round of survey was conducted for the blocks after the forest fire was contained and the staff had direct sighting of Nilgiri Tahrs from a distance through binoculars, said sources.

As per the survey report, the estimated increase in the population from zero to 26 from 2024 to 2026 indicates either improved population estimation efforts or recolonisation of suitable habitats.

It stated that the estimated population in the fragmented habitats such as Coimbatore, Kodikanal, Theni, Ambasamudram, Kanniyakumari divisions and isolated population in other Nilgiri Tahr holding divisions, with less than 30 individuals requiring immediate habitat intervention. The report suggested that reduction in anthropogenic pressure, habitat enrichment, establishment of corridors by removal of invasive plants and population reintroduction can be carried out to restore the population.

Over nine tonnes of plastic waste, including that collected directly from pilgrims, has been removed from the Vellingiri Hills during the ongoing pilgrimage season.

The waste was collected jointly by the Forest staff, volunteers from NGO Velliangiri Malai Pathukappu Amaippu and a team from Recompose Recycling Private Limited over 64 days.

According to the Forest Department, its staff collect plastic items such as packaged drinking water bottles and polythene bags from pilgrims at the Vellingiri foothills before they are allowed to trek. Only necessary plastic items are allowed to be carried by the devotees. An amount of ₹20 is collected for each of these plastic items, and a sticker is stuck on them. When these plastic items are returned, the ₹20 per item is refunded.

The NGO volunteers were engaged in removing plastic waste along the trekking route.

C. Prashanth, one of the founders of Recompose Recycling, said 9,110 kg of plastic waste was collected in total. The plastic items that could not be recycled due to soil accumulation were sent to cement factories after converting them into refuse-derived fuel.

Multi-layer plastics (MLP) like biscuit covers, chocolate wrappers and shampoo sachets are turned into value-added products. “These types of plastics are turned into chairs, tables, benches and other items, and are given to the Forest Department itself. None of the recovered plastics are dumped,” said Mr. Prashanth.