Garbage crisis escalates in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The efforts taken by the city corporation to end   the dumping of garbage in public places have come to a grinding halt with the launch of election campaigns by political parties.

The health wing under the civic body is feeling the heat as the parties are using the garbage issue as a tool in each ward to tarnish the ward councillor.  

Garbage is piling up all over the city as the civic authorities are unable to book violators dumping waste. Adding  to the woes, the health officials are given election duties. 

A top official of the health wing said that the special squads deployed to book violators were unable to discharge their duty due to the interference by political parties.

"We have our limitations and the  parties are exploiting  the situation. If we try to book violators dumping garbage,  these people immediately come and interfere. We cannot fine or take action as we have no support from the parties. Right now, all are concerned about the campaign and the effort is to woo voters," said the official. 

The sanitation workers are having a hard time clearing up the mess."People are dumping garbage in the open and they don't fear officials. 

We deployed squads at problem areas and the other day  our squad returned without booking the violators due to local support," said the official.