Illegal waste dumping: City to deploy more squads

Thiruvananthapuram:The city corporation has decided to strengthen its health enforcement wing by increasing the number of surveillance squads to curb persistent illegal waste dumping across the capital.

The decision follows an incident on Thursday night in which a truck driver was caught allegedly dumping poultry waste into roadside drains at Oruvathilkotta. The violation came to light after members of a local residents’ association alerted corporation authorities. Health officials rushed to the spot and initiated action against the offender.

At present, the corporation operates only four health squads for round-the-clock surveillance and enforcement against illegal waste disposal. Civic authorities believe this is insufficient to effectively monitor vulnerable locations across the city, particularly at night when most dumping incidents occur.

Corporation health standing committee chairman M R Gopan said the enforcement mechanism would be expanded in the coming weeks.

“The number of health squads will be increased soon to ensure illegal waste dumping is eliminated from the city. We have intensified inspections and will continue strict action against violators,” he said.

Gopan said stronger support from the police department was essential for effective enforcement.

“Police assistance is necessary for carrying out enforcement activities. However, coordination has not been satisfactory in many instances. The previous govt had issued an order directing police personnel to accompany health officials during enforcement drives. We plan to prepare a comprehensive action plan with active police support so that strict action can be taken against offenders,” he said.

Illegal dumping of poultry waste, food waste and construction debris remains a major concern in several parts of the city. Residents frequently complain about waste being discarded in drains, canals, vacant plots and along roadsides. Such practices clog drainage systems, worsen monsoon waterlogging and create public health hazards.

Recent govt meetings on urban flooding also identified indiscriminate dumping into drains and waterways as a key factor behind flooding. Authorities have warned of stringent legal action against offenders.

The corporation has already stepped up surveillance through special monitoring squads and CCTV cameras linked to the Integrated Command and Control Centre. Officials said increasing the number of health squads would improve coverage and enable quicker action against violators.