Fri Sep 19 18:09:35 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, formatted as if it appeared in The Hindu:
**The Hindu – Madurai, September 19, 2025**
**Kerala Medical Waste Dumped Near Madurai Water Bodies, Farmers Allege**
**MADURAI:** Farmers in Madurai district raised serious concerns about the illegal dumping of medical waste originating from Kerala near water bodies in Tirumangalam at a grievance redressal meeting held at the Collectorate on Friday. The meeting was presided over by Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar.
Farmers voiced strong complaints that the practice was polluting local water sources and urged immediate action to prevent further dumping and implement stricter monitoring. “The waterbodies in the region are getting polluted” one farmer exclaimed at the meeting.
Collector Kumar responded swiftly, instructing authorities to lodge a police complaint and seize any vehicles involved in the illegal activity. He assured the farmers that steps were already underway to clear the existing waste.
Beyond the waste issue, farmers from the Melur region also pressed for the dredging of supply and irrigation channels, stating that water released for irrigation was ineffective without proper dredging. According to the authorities, the dredging work has been carried out.
Additionally, a group of maize farmers expressed their dissatisfaction with delays in receiving compensation for crop losses. The Collector pledged to investigate the matter and expedite payments upon the release of funds.
On a positive note, farmers expressed their gratitude to the State government and the Madurai district administration for the timely release of water from the Vaigai dam, benefiting single-crop cultivation across Madurai, Sivaganga, and Dindigul districts.
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I left out the promotional information, focusing on the news content of the farmer’s meeting.
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