Team from Kerala begins cleanup of hazardous wastes dumped in Tirunelveli district

A team of 25 members from Kerala arrived in Tirunelveli district to remove truckloads of hazardous waste dumped at various locations across the district, which had been transported from Kerala.

A team of 25 members from Kerala arrived in Tirunelveli district to remove truckloads of hazardous waste dumped at various locations across the district, which had been transported from Kerala. The cleanup operation commenced on Sunday (December 22, 2024) morning.

The waste found in the places including Pazhavoor, Kodaganallur, Kallur and Kondanagaram comprised biomedical materials including syringes, blood samples and other hazardous waste mixed with solid wastes. These waste materials were reportedly transported from Regional Cancer Centre and a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.

The issue which drew significant media attention prompted the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal to take up the matter suo moto.

The Bench comprising Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati on Thursday directed the Kerala government to remove the biomedical wastes mixed with solid waste within three days of the order.

Following this directive, officials from the Kerala government inspected the affected sites on Friday and said that necessary actions would be taken in line with NGT’s instructions. They also added that a detailed report would be submitted to the Kerala government.

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In compliance with the order and to execute the cleanup 16 heavy load trucks were brought from Kerala to remove the tonnes of wastes dumped at six various locations in Tirunelveli district. Officials present at the site included Sakshi Mohan, Assistant Collector, Thiruvananthapuram alongside officials from Kerala Pollution Control Board.