Trivandrum: Despite the High Court’s recent ban against the dumping of waste in open places, public dumping has been on the rise. That was when the Kerala police stepped in and introduced a new scheme named ‘Operation Sweep’ to make Kerala clean. Following this, the corporation also launched a 24 hour helpline to report cases of waste dumping.The squad has received calls from places like Medical College, Chalai, Sasthamangalam, Thirumala, Palayam and Fort area. The Corporation Health Officer Sreekumar told Yentha, “The Corporation has been active against waste dumping from 1994 onwards. All these time the people able to complain directly in Corporation. Now we have introduced the 24 hour helpline number to report cases. At present, 25 health inspectors in 25 health circles are actively working for this cause. There are two health squads consisting of a senior health inspector, three junior health officers and a driver available on duty, 24 hours. A night squad is the latest addition in the squad.” The squads of Police and Corporation are active in the city, ever ready to receive calls and take action. Now it is the duty of people to make themselves alert about illegal waste dumping in open places.
According to this new scheme of the corporation, the public can report cases to the health squad by calling 9496434517. After the ban, 100s of cases have been reported in the city. The squad official said, “On the first couple of days itself we received 35 cases. If we receive cases in the morning we will direct it to the concerned police station. In answer to calls in the afternoon, we go directly to the complaint spots. We meet the accused and warn them. We have a fine system of Rs. 250 to Rs. 500. Considering the nature of the waste we charge the fine.”
As reported in: http://www.yentha.com/news/view/1/14457