Tamirabarani polluters to be fined Rs2,000

Madurai: Dumping garbage and plastic waste into the Tamirabarani river in Tirunelveli corporation limits could now attract fines ranging from Rs500 to Rs2,000 after district collector R Sukumar ordered strict enforcement from Monday.The collector issued the directions during a review meeting held at the Tirunelveli collectorate on Sunday to assess measures taken to prevent pollution in the river.Officials informed the meeting that special monitoring and cleaning operations have been carried out along the Tamirabarani riverbank at Papanasam for the past four days.Authorities said Vikramasingapuram municipality has so far collected Rs26,000 in fines from people accused of dumping waste into the river.The collector instructed officials to initiate action against those throwing plastic and other waste materials into the river in areas under Vikramasingapuram municipality.He also directed enforcement measures in river stretches passing through Ambasamudram municipality and Mukkudal town panchayat.Officials were asked to intensify monitoring along riverbank areas within Tirunelveli corporation limits, including Melanatham, Karuppanthurai, CN Gramam, Vannarpettai, Manimoorthiswaram, Arugankulam and Narayanammalpuram.The administration said indiscriminate dumping of waste into the river was affecting water quality and drinking water sources connected to the Tamirabarani.The collector directed civic authorities to continue regular inspections in locations where waste disposal violations were repeatedly reported.