Ernakulam, Kerala: Playback singer MG Sreekumar has been fined Rs 25,000 by the Mulavukad panchayat in Ernakulam for dumping waste into the Kochi backwaters. The penalty comes in the wake of a video showing garbage being thrown from his residence into the water. A tourist captured the footage and posted it on social media, tagging Kerala Minister for Local Self-Governments MB Rajesh.

Panchayat officials reviewed the video, verifying the date, time, and location based on instructions from the local government department’s control room. Following an inspection, it was confirmed that the waste was dumped from Sreekumar’s house but the person who dumped it could not be identified. Later, authorities issued a fine notice under the Panchayat Raj Act.

Panchayat’s version
Officials maintained that Sreekumar resides in Thiruvananthapuram, and his household staff may have been responsible for the waste disposal. They confirmed that the singer paid the fine immediately after receiving the notice.

Reporting illegal waste dumping
The Kerala government has encouraged the public to report illegal waste dumping via a dedicated WhatsApp number (94467 00800), assuring strict action against offenders polluting public spaces.