08-08-2025
Kovur's growth boosts infrastructure, but waste disposal remains a concern
Kovur, a once quiet, green village in Chennai's western suburbs, is undergoing rapid development.
Situated around five kilometres from Porur along the Porur-Kundrathur Road, the area, part of Kundrathur taluk in Kancheepuram district, has seen significant changes in recent years — from new high-rises built by prominent real estate firms to improved roads.
Long-time residents recall a very different Kovur. 'It used to be covered in trees and bushes. People rarely visited the periya kovil because it was hard to reach,' said M. Rajeshwari, who has lived in the area for over 30 years.
The 'periya kovil' she referred to is the historic Sundareswarar Temple, built during the Chozha period. According to historian V. Sriram, the temple also has a cultural legacy — Tyagaraja, the famed Carnatic composer, created five keerthanais here in the 1830s after being invited by East India Company's chief dubash Kovur Sundaresa Mudali.
Improved accessibility has brought more visitors to the temple, but infrastructure still lags in places. During a recent visit to Kovur, restrooms built by government authorities under the HR&CE department were found locked. Locals said the facility is functional, but sometimes remains closed when the assigned caretaker is absent.
Elsewhere, signs of urban development are more visible. 'Most of the old tiled-roof houses are gone. People have rebuilt them as two- or three-storey buildings,' said Thaayamma, who runs a grocery shop.
D. Revathi, another resident, notes that the re-laid roads have made everyday commuting much easier.
Open garbage dumping
Despite the many positives, Kovur is also starting to show early signs of urban strain. The most pressing concern is the increasing open dumping of garbage.
Though the residents say that waste is collected every two days, it is often dumped in open areas outside the panchayat limits — particularly along the service road south of the Chennai Bypass toward Tambaram. On August 1, heaps of plastic and domestic waste were seen burning in these open spaces, releasing smoke into the air.
A panchayat official acknowledged the issue, stating that while recent funds were directed toward roadwork and underground sewer projects, steps are being taken to prioritise waste segregation. Plans are under way to improve recycling, particularly of plastic waste, the official said.
While Kovur currently escapes problems like rainwater stagnation and stray cattle that plague more densely populated suburbs, unchecked growth and poor waste management could steer it in the same problematic direction, said residents.
