Sat Jan 11 13:37:50 UTC 2025: ## Kanniyakumari Collector Cracks Down on Illegal Waste Dumping
**KANNIYAKUMARI, January 11, 2025** – Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena has launched a crackdown on the illegal transportation and dumping of waste from neighboring states and districts. In a meeting held on Saturday, she issued a stern warning that vehicles carrying waste – including hotel, poultry, biomedical, and other waste – will face permit cancellations.
The Collector instructed officials from various departments, including Block Development Officers, Executive Officers, and Health department officials, to inspect pig farms and shut down any unlicensed operations. She emphasized a zero-tolerance policy for waste dumping from outside the district, ordering the imposition of fines on offending vehicles. Regional Transport Officers and Motor Vehicle Inspectors were tasked with strengthening surveillance at check-posts.
To address existing waste, Ms. Alagumeena ordered immediate removal efforts and directed local bodies (village panchayat, town panchayat, municipality, and corporation) to inspect and clear waste from their respective areas. Forest areas are to be monitored jointly by local bodies and forest officers.
Increased surveillance measures are being implemented, including the establishment of new check-posts in Kaliyal, Kadayal, and Munchirai town panchayats and the utilization of surveillance cameras at Kulithurai junction. Tahsildars will meet with Village Administrative Officers (VAOs) for continuous monitoring and swift action against illegal dumping.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has been instructed to take immediate action against violations and to post warning signs at checkposts and major roads. Ms. Alagumeena noted that medical waste from primary health centers is currently being handled by licensed agencies and advised local bodies to ensure proper sorting and handling of medical waste. Contact information for a private biomedical waste management company was also provided.
The meeting was attended by District Superintendent of Police R. Stalin, Padmanabhapuram Sub-Collector Vinay Kumar Meena, Environment and Climate Change Executive Engineer Barathi, and other officials. The Collector’s actions aim to prevent Kanniyakumari from becoming a dumping ground for waste from other regions.
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