THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was reported that today early morning, a truck carrying medical and poultry waste from Kerala was caught dumping its load in a village near Nagercovil in Tamil Nadu. The incident came to light, after local youngsters intercepted the truck, claiming that this wasn’t the first time waste had been dumped in their locality. They highlighted the severe impact on agriculture and farms due to such dumping.
Concerned about the frequent occurrences, the youngsters waited for the vehicle and apprehended it early in the morning. When questioned, the truck driver stated that the waste included meat and poultry wastes from various hotels of Kollam district, Kerala. However, upon checking, besides meat waste, the wrapped nylon sacks contained used plastic goods, medical wastes, and electronic appliances.
The locals informed the police, but there was a delay in their arrival, leading to suspicions that the police might have knowledge of the waste dumping. The driver claimed that the owner instructed him to collect meat, fish, and poultry wastes from multiple Kerala hotels, and dispose it off in isolated areas of Tamil Nadu. He admitted that at times, waste was dumped on roadsides and farmlands.
In the midst of this, locals alleged a concerning pattern: trucks carrying waste from Kerala in the morning were suspected of engaging in illegal transportation of valuable Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) on their return trips. They accused the Tamil Nadu government of failing to take action against these environmental violations. Moreover, locals claimed that truck owners and drivers had previously threatened them for opposing these actions.
Upon the police’s eventual arrival, they seized the truck and arrested the driver.
Irked by the frequent dumping, villagers have sought action against those involved and urged authorities to initiate talks between the two states to put an end to the decades-long scourge.
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