Chennai: What was once a quiet and clean spot, the Elliot’s Beach in Besant Nagar is now filled with garbage, plastic waste, and illegal stalls.The number of shops and stalls along the beach increased from around 100 in 2013 to more than 700 now.Many of these illegal eateries and entertainment stalls, operating without permits, dump oil and waste on the sands. The beach was upgraded in 2018-19 at a cost of 10 crore under Centre’s Swadesh Darshan scheme. Today, the facilities lie neglected e-toilets are unusable, play equipment is rusted, and broken pavement tiles create a hazard.The beach generates nearly two lakh kilograms of waste every two weeks, including over 10,000kg of plastic alone. Residents say no regular clean-up drives are organized by GCC or NGOs to clear garbage. “Beach cleaning drives have been reduced by half in the recent days,” said M Prasad of Besant Nagar 6th Avenue said. “And garbage rots on sands for at least two weeks before being picked up.”Encroachments have also taken over the footpaths along Second Avenue and near Elliot’s Beach. With no parking space available, many visitors leave their vehicles on the pavements, forcing pedestrians to walk on the roads.”Encroachers bribe cops to keep their shops on the pavement. There has been no action despite repeated complaints,” said T Girish of Besant Nagar.Ward 174 councillor M Radhika, said, “Urbaser Sumeet told us that the beach does not come under their limits. So, we have taken up this issue with the corporation, and they have promised to take measures.” When contacted, Velachery MLA Assan Maulana said, “GCC regularly organizes beach cleaning drives in the Marina. I have asked them to hold such cleaning initiatives in Besant Nagar too.”