EPS of AIADMK Criticizes Stalin for Kerala Medical Waste Disposal in Tirunelveli

Chennai, Dec 19 (NationPress) AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, K. Palaniswami (EPS), has leveled serious accusations against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for allowing the dumping of medical waste from Kerala into several villages in the Tirunelveli district.

In a post shared on X, EPS stated, “Tamil Nadu is not a dumping ground for anyone,” emphasizing, “While the Tamil Nadu CM is keen to engage in friendly gestures and photo opportunities with the Kerala CM, he fails to defend the state’s rights concerning the Mullaiperiyar dispute. Furthermore, he is ineffective in stopping the neighboring state from transforming Tamil Nadu into a dumping site.”

The former chief minister referred to Stalin’s recent interaction with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan during the inauguration of the revamped Thanthai Periyar Memorial at Vaikom on December 12, celebrating the centenary of the Vaikom Satyagraha.

EPS urged the DMK government to take prompt and decisive actions to eliminate the hazardous biomedical waste and implement strict measures to avert future incidents.

He posted images showcasing biomedical waste littered in Kallur and Pazhavur villages in Tirunelveli district, located along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. EPS claimed that the illegal disposal of medical waste from Kerala has been a persistent issue in these border regions.

Reports indicate that substantial amounts of biomedical, plastic, and food waste from the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cancer Centre and a private hospital in Kerala were illegally dumped in Kodaganallur and Palavoor villages of Tirunelveli. The waste contained dangerous items such as used syringes, PPE kits, and medical documentation containing sensitive personal information, raising serious concerns regarding health, environmental safety, and data privacy.

Local residents have reported that the dumping, typically occurring at night, has contaminated local water sources, affected livestock, and led to health complications among the community. Landowners have consistently voiced their grievances to authorities, but the problem remains unaddressed.

Authorities suspect trucks, purportedly transporting waste for a nearby paper mill, are engaged in this unlawful dumping. Nevertheless, no measures have been taken to monitor or identify these vehicles, despite suggestions to install CCTV cameras at strategic locations.

K. Annamalai, Tamil Nadu BJP President, also criticized the DMK government, accusing it of ignoring Kerala’s waste disposal issues.

In a post on X, Annamalai stated, “Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is relinquishing Tamil Nadu’s rights, including those related to Cauvery water, to states governed by his coalition parties, has permitted border districts like Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, and Tirunelveli to become dumping grounds for the Communist government of Kerala.”

He further claimed that border check posts designed to prevent such illegal waste transportation have devolved into “collection centers.”

Annamalai cautioned that if these incidents persist, the BJP would rally public support in January 2025. He declared, “We will load the biomedical waste and refuse into trucks and return it to Kerala. I will be the first to travel in the initial truck.”

Resident associations in Tirunelveli have voiced their call for immediate action to halt the illegal dumping and urged authorities to ensure stricter oversight at border check posts. The District Collector has instructed local officials and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) to investigate the situation, and an FIR is anticipated soon.

--ANS

aal/skp