Kerala: Septage lorries asked to install GPS trackers

Kochi: The State Human Rights Commission has asked tanker lorries transporting toilet waste in Ernakulam district to install GPS trackers.  The commission issued the directives to Kochi City Police Commissioner and  Kochi Corporation to make sure that all the tanker lorries  complied  with the order. Acting chairman of the commission P. Mohandas, who  issued the directive, asked the authorities to take custody of the vehicles violating the norms and book the offenders. 

The commission stressed the need for taking action against those who dump toilet waste in residential areas.      It  asked the authorities to monitor the activities of trucks and to ensure that the GPS installed are working properly. The commission had earlier sought reports from the police and the district medical officer. The DMO informed that  there was no proper facilities in the district to dispose toilet waste.

However, hundreds of vehicles are registered in the district to dispose toilet waste.  At night several vehicles  dump  human excreta along the roads and canals.  The district police chief also confirmed the same. The commission was considering a petition filed by human rights activist and Cochin Corporation councillor Thampi Subrahmanian.  At present more than hundred vehicles are engaged in disposal of toilet waste. The commission  also asked the corporation to take steps to ban the waste disposal at SA Road, Kochi, Chettichira and the vacant land near Edakochi telephone exchange.