Action sought against dumping of waste close to Kochi backwaters

Cochin Port Trust land on Willingdon Island turns a dump

The State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) on Solid Waste Management has sought the intervention of the National Green Tribunal against the attempts to convert the land south of the highway on Willingdon Island between Alexander Parambithara bridge and Kannangatt bridge into an illegal plastic and hazardous waste dump.

Committee chairman A.V. Ramakrishna Pillai had visited the site in mid-December following complaints of illegal dumping of refuse on the land located close to the Kochi backwaters. A site inspection report by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board had revealed that about five acres were affected owing to the unauthorised dumping of non-biodegradable waste over several months. The land is owned by the Cochin Port Trust.

In his report filed before the Southern Bench of the tribunal, the SLMC chairman said that it was shocking to note that solid and hazardous waste materials were seen dumped over an area covering a length of 200 metres on the banks of the backwaters, south to the public road between Alexander Parambithara bridge (crossing over Kollam-Kottapuram national waterway) and Kannangatt bridge. The entire road side was seen dumped with non-degradable solid waste. It appeared that waste dumping had commenced months ago.