Kochi: Huge amounts of rubbish, including food waste, have become a common sight along the Kalamassery - Medical College road and near the HMT School in North Kalamassery. The garbage heap dumped on roadsides and nearby areas are damaging the greenery.
The lack of surveillance cameras and proper enforcement seem to have encouraged violators to use roadsides for waste dumping. Garbage heaps are visible at various spots along the stretch.
Locals commuting through the stretch pointed out that the wastes were being dumped during night hours.
“Those involved in the illegal activity often comes in cars and scooters and throw the waste on either side of the road while on the move,” Aghil Sathyanathan, a resident, said.
"Municipal authorities are not taking action despite back to back complaints."
According to Rukiya Jamal, chairperson of the Kalamassery Municipality, ten surveillance cameras are being placed on different spots including the HMT – Medical College road to identify the miscreants, as part of the waste treatment projects of local bodies.
“Mass cleaning is being done only once every week due to less number of available cleaning staffs. After the cleaning, the same amount of waste is again being dumped in the next six days,” she said.
“Seven of the ten cameras are already placed on the spots, and the electrification process is underway. The illegal dumping will be stopped and strict actions taken against the violators.”
She said that 13,000-14,000 houses in the municipal limits are already registered for waste segregation and the collection is being done with the help of Kudumbashree members.
"The placing of waste bins stopped a few years ago due to some issues related to its disposal, and we have implemented the direct collection," she said.
Besides, a plastic shredding unit has also been set up in the dumping yard. An incinerator will be set up within two months to dispose of the wastes like diapers, napkins and leathers.
