In light of Kerala dumping illegal medical waste in border villages of Tamil Nadu, Bharatiya Janata Party state President K Annamalai slammed the ruling DMK government for its inefficiency.
Taking to social media platform X, he wrote, “Chief Minister @mkstalin, who is ceding Tamil Nadu’s rights, including Cauvery water, to states ruled by his coalition parties, has allowed the border districts of Kerala, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, and Tirunelveli, to be turned into a garbage dump for the Communist government of Kerala. While the DMK government is in league with the Communist government of Kerala, our southern districts have been turned into a dumping ground for the state’s biomedical, plastic, and meat waste. The check posts that were supposed to stop this waste, which is brought in by trucks every day, have become mere collection centers. On the one hand, the DMK government seems to be turning a blind eye to the illegal smuggling of minerals from Tenkasi and Kanyakumari districts to Kerala, and on the other hand, it has given free rein to use Tamil Nadu as a garbage dump. Despite repeated complaints to the authorities and the Chief Minister’s Special Cell, no action has been taken to stop this. This is happening with the full knowledge of the DMK government. The DMK government should immediately stop the conversion of Tamil Nadu border districts into a garbage dump for the state of Kerala. If similar incidents continue, in the first week of January 2025, we will mobilize the public, load this biomedical waste and garbage into trucks and dump it in Kerala. I inform the DMK government that I will also go in the first truck.”
காவிரி நீர் உள்ளிட்ட தமிழகத்தின் உரிமைகளை தனது கூட்டணிக் கட்சிகள் ஆளும் மாநிலங்களுக்கு விட்டுக் கொடுத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் முதலமைச்சர் திரு @mkstalin அவர்கள், கேரள மாநிலத்தின் எல்லையோர மாவட்டங்களான கன்னியாகுமரி, தென்காசி மற்றும் திருநெல்வேலி மாவட்டங்களை, கேரள கம்யூனிஸ்ட் அரசின்… pic.twitter.com/egdyR3x3ue
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) December 17, 2024
Large volumes of biomedical, food, and plastic waste, reportedly from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) and Credence Private Hospital, were found dumped across multiple Kodaganallur and Palavoor villages. The waste included hazardous biomedical materials, such as used syringes and PPE kits, discarded on patta lands and waterbodies, causing significant health and environmental concerns.
As reported by TNIE, the dumping, which has been ongoing for several months, allegedly occurs during the night, making it difficult to apprehend those responsible. Trucks believed to be transporting loads for a nearby paper mill are suspected of bringing in the waste. Despite complaints by affected landowners, authorities have taken little action, and the issue remains unresolved.
Medical records containing sensitive personal information of cancer patients treated at the RCC were also found among the waste. Documents included patient names, addresses, treatment details, diagnoses, and dietary plans. Several of these records appeared to be recent, with dates from November 2024. The discovery of such documents not only highlights improper waste disposal practices but also raises concerns about a serious data breach.
The illegal dumping has had a direct impact on the local environment and livelihoods. Contaminated water sources near the dumping sites have led to health issues among livestock, including cattle and goats. Local farmers and residents are increasingly concerned about the long-term effects of biomedical waste exposure on their health and the surrounding ecosystem.
The issue has been brought to the attention of various authorities, including the Suthamalli police and the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Special Cell. Complaints were filed over a month ago, but no case has been registered to date. Residents have alleged negligence on the part of both the police and revenue officials, as neither group has visited the affected sites despite repeated requests.
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