KOZHIKODE: The residents of Thondayad bypass here prevented a private hospital from dumping septic tank waste on the public road and premises on Saturday. The police took the vehicle into custody after the people stopped the tanker lorry carrying the waste. Two people who were arrested in the case have been released on bail, the police said.
The issue had cropped up after a private hospital started functioning at Kudilthodu junction on Thondayad bypass. The locals say that septic waste was being pumped and the tanker lorry was seen going out of the hospital compound many times. The waste was being spread in areas like Chinmaya road, Kottooli road, Palazhi road etc.
On Friday night, the tanker went outside more than once and they stopped the vehicle near the hospital gate itself. Though the hospital authorities said that the tanker contained only rain water, the protest did not subside. Mayor Thottathil Raveendran and corporation health standing committee chairman K.V. Baburaj reached the spot.
The Mayor said that no one would be allowed to dump waste in public places. Councillors V.T. Sathyan and K.T. Sushaj also came to the spot. The hospital authorities said that they were complying with all the rules related to waste and wastewater processing. The cleaning works of the tanks were outsourced to a contractor and his failure in carrying out the job had led to the present situation.
