THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: City councilors who faced their first monsoon after taking office had cleaned up garbage dumps with fresh enthusiasm but are now disheartened as waste re-appears faster. Vigil committees have been established and CCTVs have been deployed to fine the offenders.
“On days with strong rains almost no new waste dumping happens. However when nights pass without rain, waste reappears swiftly. We had established a vigil squad to look for the people who dump waste on public roads but are yet to find them,” laments Thirumala councilor PV Manju
Similarly Kamaleswaram Thrimoorthi Nagar Road that leads to NH bypass is lined with plastic covers containing everything from chicken waste to old shoes. “Inspite of dummy CCTV cameras and big warning boards, waste re-appears. The problem is the health squad is active on the NH bypass, so offenders who come with waste, dump it in bylanes and escape,” said Suja S a local resident.
While large scale dumping of waste into water bodies has reduced around many bridges due to new fences, waste is now being brought in smaller packets to be flung over the fence, said Sudharakaran Nair who owns a corner shop near Thiruvallam bridge. Councilors complain that the corporation gives resources to clean up a ward only if the local councilor succeeds in finding a dumping space.
“They give us bulldozers and trucks to clean up only if we find a land to bury waste. As we have already done three rounds of clean up, we have run out of such space,” says Ms Manju said. At Kunnukuzhy, volunteers under councilor IP Binu had recently made headlines as he rallied several volunteers to clean up Plamoodu-Thekkumoodu road. “Now we have installed new CCTV cameras at secret locations to fine those who dump waste,” Mr Binu said.
