Kozhikode Corporation seeks police aid to nab waste dumpers

KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode Mayor Thottathil Raveendran  has requested the help of City Police in catching those who dump waste in public places. The Mayor has also given a letter to City Police Commissioner in this regard. The night squad formed by the Kozhikode Municipal Corporation for tackling waste dumping at public places is hit by shortage of staff and vehicles. The squad formed under health Inspectors and Junior Health Inspectors has been idle for the last several days.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Corporation Health Standing Committee Chairman K.V Baburaj said that the Corporation had requested for more hands from the state government. “We have already given a request to the local administration department to allot more staff in the Health department and also for vehicles for the effective functioning of night squads and other health related activities in the City. We are expecting more staff in another two weeks time,” he said.

He added that the City Corporation would  soon install  CCTV cameras to catch the waste dumpers. Meanwhile, City Police officials said that the Police would also chip in by taking strict action against those who throw waste. “Whenever we find this, we immediately take action. However because of shortage of hands, we cannot completely devote time for patrolling to check waste dumping,” said Deputy Police Commissioner D Sali.

The Corporation is facing an acute waste dumping issue at prime spots of the City in recent times and the Night Squad had fined many in the past. Recently, the Mayor ordered the closure of a hospital following the dumping of septic waste on the roadside and the night squad had seized a lorry and fined the vehicle owner '25,000 for dumping septic waste at Malapparamba Bypass.