Special squad to track waste dumping in tourism spots

Fine to be slapped on violators on the spot

Garbage dumped along the Vellayil stretch of the Kozhikode Beach on Thursday.

A special surveillance squad comprising officials from government departments has been formed to track those who recklessly dump waste along the city’s beach destinations and other eco-tourism spots.

The squad formed by the district administration after undertaking a mass cleaning drive in such spots will instantly slap fine on violators, and initiate further legal actions against them if they repeat the offence. In the first phase, Kozhikode beach and Thamarassery Ghat Road will be covered.

The Ghat Road was included in the list considering the request of various local bodies and the Ghat Road Protection Committee, which is now in the forefront of guarding the mountain road from reckless waste dumping.

The main plan of the new squad is to make all merchants accountable for maintaining a clean ambiance around their shops. So, the traders in these locations will be responsible for ensuring cleanliness within a radius of 25 metres. Spot fine will be imposed on those who fail to comply with the directive.

‘Polluter pays’ principle will be applied in large-scale waste dumping. The amount required for waste treatment and fine will be collected from such persons.

The Pollution Control Board (PCB) will monitor the process based on the latest guidelines issued by the National Green Tribunal. Police and health departments will play a key role in the activities.

Revenue Department officials say the Kozhikode Corporation and three grama panchayats — Kunnummal, Meppayoor and Kuttiyadi — will walk an extra mile in the new cleanliness mission to claim the title of the district’s first model city and model panchayats.

With the new regulations, many local merchants have started setting up their own waste management systems by complying with the norms of PCB.

For the merchants who can’t afford to set up the waste management system, the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti has offered its support.

Similarly, efforts are also on to help poultry merchants adopt a scientific waste treatment method to continue in the business.

According to Corporation authorities, the reckless dumping of slaughterhouse waste and plastic was the biggest issue they faced in maintaining cleanliness on the Kozhikode beach.

The situation was almost the same in the case of Thamarassery Ghat Road, they said.