Unyielding Resolve: Kerala Triumphantly Clears Hazardous Medical Waste from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli

Chennai, Dec 22: Under strict orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Kerala government has launched an operation to remove medical waste illegally dumped in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. The directive demands the waste be cleared by December 23. Tasked with this mission, a team led by Assistant Collector Albert has deployed eight trucks for waste transportation back to Kerala.

The improper disposal of medical waste, reportedly originating from Kerala hospitals, has sparked significant outrage in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the areas of Nadukallur, Kodaganallur, Kondanagaram, and Suthamalli. The dumping, which includes hazardous materials like used syringes and PPE kits, has raised serious health and environmental concerns. Locals report contamination of water sources and health issues among residents and livestock.

Tirunelveli District Collector Karthikeyan has questioned the efficacy and cost behind employing middlemen for waste deemed “non-hazardous” by Kerala authorities. He insists on stringent action against those responsible to deter future incidents. Six police cases have been filed following complaints in Suthamalli, leading to the arrest of a lorry owner and a supervisor from a private Kerala-based waste management firm.

Investigations suggest that these trucks, under the pretense of delivering waste to a paper mill, have been involved in the illegal dumping. The pollution has persisted despite ongoing complaints from local landowners. Various stakeholders, including social worker C.M. Kumaraswamy, have advocated for installing CCTV cameras at strategic points to curb this illicit activity, highlighting a lack of proactive measures by authorities.

Amid mounting tensions and environmental concerns, this operation marks a pivotal response to the improper handling of biomedical waste and underscores the ongoing challenges of waste management between state borders.

Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2024/12/22/after-ngt-order-kerala-clears-dumped-medical-waste-in-tns-tirunelveli/
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Publish Date: 2024-12-22 15:15:00