Collection and safe disposal of solid waste generated in municipal limits is still a daunting task for almost all municipalities in the district, due to poor implementation of solid waste management programme. No concrete measures to segregate waste at collection point, shortage of sanitary workers, lack of awareness among people and lack of official attention – all add to the mounting issue. Heaps of waste on street corners, overflowing dust bins and uncleared stock of garbage near market place are common sight in Dindigul. Burning is the only way of disposal. Sanitary workers set garbage waste on fire frequently. Smoke engulfed houses and the atmosphere frequently, causing breathing problems to the people residing near disposal yard, said T. Jayabal, resident of Murugabavanam. Even as Kodaikanal banned use of plastic cups and bags, safe disposal of waste is still a distant dream on the hill. In Palani, Adivaram, Vyapuri tank bund, Sannadhi Street, open area near Central bus stand and Gandhi market and area near APA College are highly garbage infested areas in the temple town. Such garbage dumps create a bad impression in the minds of tourists, says A. Mohammad Hanif, fruit merchant, Adivaram. Ayakudi Town Panchayat too dumps garbage near the housing colony near the town, merchants add. Oddanchatram municipality generates 12 tonnes of solid wastes, Palani generates 40 tonnes and Dindigul around 100 tonnes. Palani Municipality has a compost yard spreading across 10 acres at Periappa Nagar, 3 km away from municipal limit and has a dumping yard behind Murugabavanam. Others do not have such a facility. With no proper method, each municipality has its own style of disposing wastes. Dindigul municipality routinely burns wastes without minding air pollution and health hazards. Oddanchatram Municipality throws all wastes near Palani-Dindigul Highway, polluting large stretches of cultivable lands near it, Kodaikanal municipality dumps wastes on hill slopes near the town limit and the Palani municipality hoards wastes in a dumping yard and leaves large quantity in some locations in the town. “Even biomedical wastes are being dumped near private school and union office in Oddanchatram. They set wastes on fire. Several complaints were made. Nothing had been done,” says N. Arun Shankar, vice-president, Palni Hill Conservation Council.