Bid to dump liquor bottles into Amayizhanchan canal foiled; Corporation staff attacked
Thiruvananthapuram: Two Corporation employees were assaulted while attempting to prevent dumping of liquor bottles into the Amayizhanchan canal. Rahul and Rajeev, both stationed at the Thumboormuzhi waste treatment centre in Sreekanteswaram ward, faced physical assault during their night duty.
According to a complaint filed with the Vanchiyoor police, the employees had confronted individuals from a shop in Thakaraparambu who were disposing of liquor bottles into the waterway. The employees, part of the night patrol tasked with monitoring illegal dumping, intervened which led to the perpetrators physically attacking them, grabbing, shoving, and even hurling bottles and stones at the employees.
The attackers immediately fled the scene on a two-wheeler. A formal police complaint has been registered, including details of the vehicle used by the assailants. The night squad had caught employees from the same shop dumping liquor bottles into the canal on Saturday night. They were also fined accordingly.
This incident comes in the wake of heightened vigilance by the Corporation following the tragic death of sanitation worker Joy who had fallen into the same canal. In response, the Corporation had intensified night patrols, including deployment of women squads, to curb illegal waste disposal.
Expressing deep concern over the incident, the Corporation has urged the City Police Commissioner to take stringent action against the perpetrators. Instances of violence against waste management squads have become increasingly common, particularly during night patrols aimed at curbing public dumping, including meat waste.
Joint efforts remain unfulfilled despite promises
Despite declarations made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, plans to establish joint squads comprising police and corporation officials to combat illegal waste dumping in the capital city have yet to materialise. Minister MB Rajesh highlighted this initiative, which remains confined to mere announcements.
The failure to implement these joint squads is brought out by recent incidents where workers attempting to apprehend illegal dumpers have faced physical attacks. Even when Corporation authorities apprehend vehicles involved in garbage dumping, it takes hours to complete the legal process required for handing them over to the police.
As a result, night inspections have been disrupted, leading Corporation officials to demand that vehicles seized by the Corporation be immediately transferred to police custody and relocated to police stations. They also advocate for providing the Corporation team with necessary facilities to sustain their inspection efforts.