Protests emerge as TN farm remains dumpsite for wastes from Kerala

Chennai: Protests emerge in Naranapuram village, Tenkasi as one of its farmlands remain the dumping ground of wastes from Kerala which contitutes both electronic and biomedical wastes from the neighboring state.

A case has been registered previously at Thiruvengadam police station after poultry waste from Kerala was dumped into one of the farmlands of the village.

"This is not acceptable. Biomedical waste and electronic waste is being dumped unabatedly into our farmlands and this is coming from Kerala. A case has already been filed at Thiruvengadam police station a fortnight before on dumping of poultry waste in our farmlands. We will be forced to conduct roadblocks if the police do not act immediately," Ullas Kumar, a resident of Naranapuram village said.

The owners of the farmland are also protesting against the district authorities burning wastes without adhering to the National policy on biomedical and electronic waste management rules.

As the waste from Kerala is arrived through Kanyakumari check post, Tenkasi police have already raised their concerns there.

The district superintendent of police while speaking to media persons said that security has been tightened at Pulliyara checkpost bordering Kerala.

Local people told that they would have to block the trucks coming to Tenkasi from Kerala as most of the truck drivers are resorting to dumping junk including biomedical wastes into the farmlands of the district.

"How can they dump the biomedical waste here? This includes syrup bottles, unused tablets, and used syringes. With rains, these tablets and other biomedical waste will mix with the water and will pollute our land with chemicals," said Rajashekaran Pillai, a resident of Nayanmar village.

-IANS Inputs