Waste dumping continues in city despite ‘waste-free’ tag

T'puram: Even as city corporation declared Thiruvananthapuram a waste-free zone under state govt's Malinya Muktha Nava Keralam project, the ground reality tells a different story. Public spaces, drains and canals across the city continue to be dumping grounds for waste, with NH 66 from Kovalam to Enchakkal particularly affected.
Despite the civic body's claims, heaps of garbage tied in plastic covers are regularly found along the highway and in drains, turning NH 66 into a dumping yard. Residents and passersby reported seeing individuals arriving on two-wheelers and cars, brazenly discarding waste on the Muttathara overpass and other locations before fleeing. Although National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) previously took steps to clear the waste using earthmovers, they have now stopped doing so due to repeated incidents of waste dumping.
NHAI project director Debaprasad Sahoo told TOI that this has been a persistent issue for several years. "Earlier, we used to remove the waste at our own cost. In fact, that is not our job. However, we stopped because waste dumping has become a regular affair. The local body needs to generate awareness among public. So, we will write to corporation urging immediate action to address this problem," he said.
However, city corporation, aware of the worsening situation, has vowed to step up enforcement. Corporation secretary Jahamgeer S said that urgent steps would be taken to tackle the problem. "We will inform the squad and health wing officials to remove the waste. Additionally, we will intensify surveillance operations," he said.
As part of its broader waste management strategy, corporation also plans to direct the irrigation department to clean the drains and canals, which have also become waste-clogged. Corporation already began its pre-monsoon cleaning drive, but efforts by other departments, particularly those responsible for managing city drains, have yet to pick up pace.
Meanwhile, waste accumulation in city's drains is another pressing concern. While corporation is responsible for cleaning 941 drains, 512 drains fall under the jurisdiction of multiple departments, including PWD, minor and major irrigation departments, Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), NHs, Smart City initiative and inland navigation department. The pre-monsoon drainage cleaning work for 2025 is expected to involve a coordinated effort by these departments. PWD will handle 277 projects, the minor irrigation department 107 and major irrigation department 46.
Despite these plans, delay in implementation is raising concerns among residents. Without swift action, clogged drains and unchecked waste dumping could lead to severe flooding and health hazards during the monsoon. Local activists and environmentalists argue that enforcement alone will not solve the problem. They emphasize the need for stricter penalties for waste dumping and more robust public awareness campaigns to change people's attitudes toward waste disposal.