The Madurai Corporation has issued a show-cause notice to a private hospital on Sathamangalam Road in Ward 34 on the charge of negligence in disposal of waste after the local residents complained to the health department officials on Saturday.

On instruction from Commissioner Chitra Vijayan, a team of officials, comprising an Assistant Engineer, an Assistant City Health Officer and field staff, swung into action.

According to Dinesh, a resident of the area, a foul smell which emanated from the hospital’s rear side was due to the improper disposal of the waste. “The hospital waste was dumped in blue colour polythene bags and kept in the open space,“ he said.

Since many houses were located very close to the hospital, the residents could not remain indoors due to the stench. Above all, an open drainage running in front of the houses too was overflowing on the bylane due to a pipe leak.

On receipt of the complaint on Corporation WhatsApp, the authorities came to the spot and stopped the sewage flowing on the road by replacing the worn-out pipes, the residents said, adding that such a problem was a regular affair in the area.

To add to their woes, the sudden downpour on Friday night led to an increased amount of sewage overflowing on the streets leading to Aavin junction, they added.

The Corporation issued a notice to the hospital management seeking an explanation on the improper disposal of waste and directed it to dispose of the waste by following the Standard Operating Procedure, a health department official said, and added that they conducted surprise checks in a few neighbouring wards also during the day.

The Corporation urged private hospitals in the city to give attention to disposal of waste as it might affect the eco-system and sometimes spread communicable diseases.