Expired medicines dumped in lake at Thiruneermalai irk clean-up volunteers

CHENNAI: A group of volunteers who took up a weekend clean-up drive at Thiruneermalai lake in the city’s suburbs has vowed to end dumping of bio-medical waste in the water body.
On Sunday, the group found about 500 bottles of expired medicines during the clean-up drive. “We had called for volunteers through social media. Within a week since our previous cleanup, someone dumped medical waste,” said V Pugalventhan, a resident of Thiruneermalai, who initiated the drive.
According to Pugalventhan, this is not the first time that such medical waste is being dumped in the lake. In February this year too, medical waste was found in another corner of the lake.
Miscreants use the lakebed for drinking and some residents and shops dump waste in the area. “During our clean-up drive, we requested a few residents who came to dispose of waste to not use the lake as a dumpyard,” said M Anand, another volunteer.
Pugalventhan said the town panchayat officials should take strict action to curb dumping of medical waste. “We will gather activists and demand clinics and medical shops in this region take a pledge to stop such activities,” Pugalventhan said.
Most of the medicine bottles had expiry date of August 2018. “It might be the work of medical representatives,” said another volunteer, who did not wish to be identified. Locals said they took samples of the dumped waste and would file a complaint with the Kancheepuram district collector in the coming week.
The lake is about 4km from Chromepet off GST Road. Last month, tonnes of dead fish appeared in the water body. Locals alleged that sewage from Madras Economic Special Zone (MEPZ) and from residential complexes was let into the lake.