Cameras to ensure swift action against waste dumping

Thiruvananthapuram: The health wing of civic body, which is now equipped with portable surveillance cameras, to prevent illegal waste dumping will be keen on making sure that they do not make the same mistake while handling violators of green protocol during Attukal pongala.
The health wing had collected enough evidence of violation of green protocol and had decided to issue notices against 25 organisations. However, it is learnt that notices were never slapped on the violators in spite of having all evidence. The delay in issuance of notices means that the organisations might get away .

With the introduction of surveillance cameras, the officials are hopeful of swift and prompt action. They shall rely on stringent provisions under the bylaw for waste management against dumping in public places. The by-law presented in the council meeting in 2017 was published in 2018 .

Unlike the present practice of slapping nominal fines as mandated by Kerala Municipality Act, the by-law has raised fines and included provisions for penalty for repeated offence.

With the new cameras, which have been introduced in 15 health circles, officials said that they could collect strong evidence against offenders and invoke provisions under the by law to curb the practice. Mayor V K Prasanth said the cameras will be set up across all major spots in each circles. “All cameras have been handed over to health inspectors. The battery-operated cameras were bought as part of corporation’s town planning project ,” he said.