Kerala's "Waste-Free Kerala" campaign faced embarrassment as biomedical waste, including syringes and medical records, were found dumped in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli. The NGT directed Kerala to remove it, fuelling political controversy in Tamil Nadu
Published Dec 21, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 21, 2024 | 9:00 AM
Biomedical wastes dumped at a site in Tirunelveli
At a time when Kerala is aggressively promoting its “Waste-Free Kerala” campaign, the discovery of biomedical waste, including used syringes, medical records, and hospital disposables, dumped across villages in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli district has left the state red-faced.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Zone took suo motu cognizance of the issue on Thursday, 19 December, directing Kerala to take immediate responsibility for removing the waste, which allegedly originated from within its borders.
The incident has not only sparked environmental concerns but has also created a political storm in Tamil Nadu, where opposition parties are accusing the ruling DMK government of failing to safeguard the state’s environmental interests.
In an attempt to contain the escalating controversy, an eight-member team from Kerala, led by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), inspected the dumping sites in Kodaganallur and Palavoor villages in Tirunelveli on Friday, 20 December.
The team included officials from the Local Self-Government Department, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s health wing, and IMAGE (the Indian Medical Association’s agency for biomedical waste management).
“The team will examine the sites and prepare a report. Further actions will be initiated based on their findings,” KSPCB Chairperson S Sreekala told South First
She added that decisions regarding waste removal, as directed by the NGT, would depend on the report’s conclusions.
The team, it is learnt, also plans to meet the Tirunelveli District Collector to discuss potential next steps.
At the same time, reports of biomedical waste dumping in Kodaganallur and Vettuvankulam areas in Tirunelveli has also surfaced.
The NGT’s directive came after it was informed by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) that heaps of biomedical and solid waste had been found inside forested areas in Tirunelveli.
The waste posed serious threats to both the environment and local communities.
Two cases have been registered by the Suthamalli Police, and the TNPCB has asked Kerala to identify and prosecute those responsible.
One of the patient records found at the dumping site
On Thursday, the Tirunelveli District Police arrested two individuals – Manohar (50) and Mayandi (42) from Suthamalli in the district – in connection with the illegal dumping of biomedical waste from Kerala.
According to the police, the suspects were identified as agents involved in transporting the waste from Kerala to Tamil Nadu. Further investigations are underway.
The Tirunelveli district administration also set up a committee to probe the matter.
At the same time, in its order, the tribunal directed Kerala to “remove the waste of all nature dumped inside Tamil Nadu forthwith and either take it to the state of Kerala or arrange to get it treated in any authorized treatment facilities.”
The NGT also highlighted that Tamil Nadu had incurred ₹70,000 in expenses for removing similar waste in the past, an amount that Kerala has yet to reimburse.
With the next hearing set for 23 December, Kerala has been given three days to comply with the tribunal’s orders and file an action-taken report.
The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) in Thiruvananthapuram, one of the institutions named in connection with the waste, has categorically denied any involvement.
In a detailed statement on Thursday, the hospital emphasized its strict adherence to biomedical waste management protocols, stating that all waste disposal is handled by authorized agencies such as IMAGE and Sunage Eco Systems Private Limited.
“There has been no lapse in our waste disposal procedures. The hospital cannot be held responsible for the incident involving hospital waste found in Tirunelveli,” the statement read.
One of the patient data from RCC found at the dumping site
Kerala authorities, while acknowledging that the waste likely originated from the state, hinted at the involvement of unauthorised waste collectors.
“Whoever it may be, the waste is being brought from Kerala and dumped into Tamil Nadu,” the KSPCB admitted in its submission to the NGT.
The waste-dumping scandal has become a political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu, with opposition parties targeting the DMK government.
BJP Tamil Nadu President K Annamalai accused Chief Minister M K Stalin’s administration of turning a blind eye to the issue, allowing Tamil Nadu’s southern districts to become a “dumping ground” for Kerala’s waste.
“The checkpoints meant to stop waste trucks have become mere collection centers. If this continues, by January 2025, we will mobilise the public and transport this waste back to Kerala. I will personally travel in the first truck,” Annamalai warned in a post in X.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami also lambasted Stalin, accusing him of failing to take a strong stand against Kerala.
“Prosperous Tamil Nadu is not anyone’s trash can,” he said in a post in X, urging immediate action to remove the waste and prevent future incidents.
Palaniswami criticized Stalin for prioritizing photo-ops with Kerala’s leadership over addressing pressing issues such as the Mullaperiyar Dam dispute and now, illegal waste dumping.
This is not the first time Kerala’s waste management practices have come under scrutiny.
In previous incidents, biomedical and solid waste from Kerala were found dumped in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, leading to tensions between the neighbouring states.
The Tamil Nadu Revenue Department has reiterated that it is Kerala’s responsibility to manage and dispose of its waste in compliance with environmental norms.
The TNPCB’s recent communication to the KSPCB called for legal action against the Regional Cancer Centre and The Leela Kovalam, a five-star hotel, for allegedly transporting waste illegally.
It also urged stricter monitoring of the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border by police and transport departments to prevent future incidents.
Earlier, in November, when Karnataka authorities seized six lorries ferrying tonnes of plastic waste from Kerala near the Mulehole check post in Gundlupet, KPCB officials told South First that to counter this cross-border environmental threat, Kerala is now betting on a tech-driven solution — an online tracking system to monitor waste movement and halt illegal dumping practices. It was then stated that the system is expected to be in place in December.
The biomedical waste scandal comes as an embarrassment for Kerala, which has been championing its ambitious “Waste-Free Kerala” campaign.
The state government is now under pressure to act swiftly to not only comply with the NGT’s orders but also to salvage its environmental credibility.
Reports suggest that Kerala is deliberating a comprehensive strategy to either repatriate the waste or treat it at authorized facilities.
However, with just days remaining before the next tribunal hearing, time is running out for the state to take decisive action.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
