Private truck fined 10,000 for illegal garbage dumping in Coimbatore’s Pattanam panchayat

Coimbatore: Pattanam panchayat in Coimbatore district imposed a fine of 10,000 on a private truck for illegally dumping and burning garbage along Kadukuttai Road within its limits on Sunday.According to officials, the private truck had transported plastic and other waste from Avarampalayam, which falls under the city corporation limits. Taking advantage of the village's isolated stretch with minimal public movement, the waste was dumped and set on fire.
Locals who noticed the incident alerted the panchayat administration. Panchayat secretary S Saravanakumar, along with members of the public, reached the spot and intercepted the vehicle. The dumped waste was later reloaded onto the same truck. As the garbage originated from corporation limits, the incident was reported to city corporation authorities. Pattanam village panchayat which falls under Sulur taluk in the district comprises three villages Pattanam, Pattanam Pudur and Nagammanayakanpalayam. This village panchayat comprising 12 wards has a population of approximately 38,000. Villagers say biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste is being dumped without segregation at multiple locations across the panchayat, resulting in growing sanitation concerns. "Following complaints from residents about indiscriminate dumping of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in open areas, two locations have been identified as hotspots that are being used by outsiders for illegal garbage dumping. Efforts are under way to install CCTV cameras in these areas to prevent such violations. Steps have also been taken to ensure segregation of waste and to prevent garbage from being dumped indiscriminately on open lands," said Sulur panchayat union block development officer R Muthuraju. He also warned that strict action would be taken against anyone found dumping plastic or other waste within the panchayat limits.