Panruti Municipality has once again come under fire after residents allegedly caught a municipal garbage vehicle dumping waste into the Kedilam River, despite earlier assurances that the practice would be stopped. BJP State Secretary Ashvathaman warned that the party would intensify its protests if the dumping continued and urged the Tamil Nadu government to take immediate action to protect the river, as reported in Dinamalar.
According to reports, the Panruti Municipal Administration has been disposing of municipal solid waste collected from the town by dumping it into the Kedilam River and nearby government poramboke land, where it is allegedly set on fire.
Earlier this year, BJP State Secretary Ashvathaman had announced a protest under the banner “Save Kedilam”, declaring that garbage would be dumped in front of the Panruti Municipality office in protest against the alleged pollution of the river.
Following the announcement, a meeting chaired by the Tahsildar was held in January, during which officials reportedly assured stakeholders that garbage would no longer be dumped into the Kedilam River.
However, locals allege that waste continued to be dumped at various locations along the river.
Residents Stop Garbage Vehicle
The issue resurfaced on Wednesday when residents allegedly intercepted and detained a Tata Ace vehicle that had arrived to dump garbage into the Kedilam River.
After learning about the incident, Ashvathaman visited the site, inspected the alleged dumping locations, and interacted with local residents.
Addressing reporters, he praised the public for preventing the vehicle from dumping waste into the river.
“The public deserves appreciation for stopping the vehicle that came to dump garbage into the Kedilam River. The municipality had assured that garbage would no longer be dumped into the river, but the practice has continued,” he said.
BJP Demands Scientific Waste Management
Ashvathaman said municipal waste should be scientifically segregated instead of being dumped into water bodies.
He argued that segregated waste could be converted into compost or used for power generation, while burning garbage causes environmental pollution and dumping it into the river damages one of the region’s historic waterways.
Warning of continued agitation, he said the BJP would intensify its protests if the dumping did not stop.
“If garbage dumping into the river continues, the people themselves should stop the garbage vehicles. I will stand with them,” he said.
He also urged the TVK government to take immediate steps to protect rivers and prevent environmental degradation.
BJP State General Council member Sukumar, Panruti Town Organiser Vettrivel and Hindu Makkal Katchi district president Deva were also present during the inspection.
Ashvathaman Questions Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Bail
During the interaction with the media, Ashvathaman also commented on the recent arrest of former Deputy Chief Minister and Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin.
He said the arrest was justified and questioned how Udhayanidhi was subsequently released on bail.
According to Ashvathaman, if the police had indeed registered cases under non-bailable provisions, only a competent court could have granted bail.
He questioned how the TVK government had facilitated the release and alleged that several politically motivated cases had been filed against BJP leaders and political opponents during the previous DMK government.
“The consequences of those actions are now being witnessed,” he remarked.
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