Collector R. Alagumeena has ordered stringent actions against vehicles transporting waste from neighbouring State and districts.

During a meeting held in collectorate on Saturday, she warned that permits of the vehicles, carrying wastes from hotels, poultry, biomedical and other wastes into the district, would be cancelled.

At the meeting, the Collector urged the Block Development Officers, Executive Officers and Health department officials from Municipality and Corporation to inspect the pig farms in their areas and to immediately close any unlicensed operations.

She emphasised that the waste from neighbouring State and districts should not be allowed here for dumping and fines should be imposed on vehicles. Regional Transport Officers and Motor Vehicle Inspectors were instructed to strengthen the surveillance at check-posts.

Ms. Alagumeena added that immediate action should be taken to remove the waste and the stakeholders should be informed to facilitate the process. She urged the authorities of village panchayat, town panchayat, municipality and corporation to inspect and act promptly to clear waste from their areas. If waste is being dumped in forest areas local bodies and forest officers should monitor and ensure its immediate disposal.

The Collector cautioned the authorities to prevent Kanniyakumari district from becoming a dumping ground. She ordered to increase the surveillance in town panchayats such as Kaliyal, Kadayal and Munchirai including the establishment of check posts in these areas.

She further stated that the surveillance cameras have been set up in Kulithurai junction to monitor the activities. Tahsildars were directed to have a meeting with Village Administrative Officers (VAO) to ensure constant monitoring of waste dumping in villages and swift actions when necessary.

“Biomedical, poultry, slaughterhouses, and plastic wastes should not be transported into the district and incase of violation Tamil Nadu pollution control board should take immediate actions,” she added. She also ordered the board to place notice boards at checkposts, highways, major roads especially in town panchayats and municipalities warning that permit of vehicles entering Tamil Nadu with prohibited waste would be cancelled.

Ms. Alagumeena noted that the medical waste from the primary health centres (PHC) are being collected by licensed agencies. She advised the respective local bodies to sort the waste in their area and ensure medical waste is handed over to the authorised persons only. A private biomedical waste management company in Pappankulam village in Nanguneri Taluk can be contacted at 7373715165 under general biomedical waste treatment for proper disposal.

District Superintendent of Police R. Stalin, Padmanabhapuram Sub-Collector Vinay Kumar Meena, Environment and Climate Change Executive Engineer Barathi and other officials were present at the meeting.