Cops seize waste dumping truck in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: A honeysucker truck, which was allegedly junking septic tank waste behind Infosys building near Kazhakkoottam, was seized by the police on Friday. A report was prepared at Thumba Police Station, and handed over to the Corporation Secretary, says Sub-inspector Prathapa Chandran K G.

In this month, this is the fourth case of private agencies dumping fecal waste in the Corporation's public spaces. If the Corporation informed the police, they would surely support, says Thiruvananthapuram city commissioner P Prakash.  He says that the cameras should be installed to monitor stretches where waste was dumped, as it could even deter offenders.  

However a Corporation official complained that there have been cases where the police had failed to respond. Though earlier police used to book such offenders under IPC sections 268 and 269, as well as Kerala Police Act 120,  now they say that the Municipal Act had more effective punitive provisions. Even as IPC sections talk about six-month-long imprisonment, in most cases, the guilty was let off with just a fine, according to police. Moreover the fine under these sections is usually around Rs 5000, while the Corporation could charge a fine of Rs 20,000, they say.

Since there is only one night squad for all 100 wards of the Corporation, it has been hard to catch honeysuckers dumping waste. The one seized on Friday got caught only because it was stuck in the muddy land behind Infosys, according to Corporation officials. They say that people noticed it, when a crane was brought to lift it. Another honeysucker truck was seized along Kazhakkoottam bypass road on January 10. On January 1, two trucks were seized in Akkulam ward.