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Toxic dumping: Tamil Nadu seeks Kerala’s help

KOCHI: The Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has sought the help of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board in tracking down those behind the alleged transport of toxic cargo from Ernakulam district to Mettur in Tamil Nadu in November.

Residents of Mettur seized a tanker carrying liquid effluents from an Aluva-based company on November 30. They alleged that the tanker lorry’s crew had emptied toxic cargo into a stream. The incident occurred nearly 10 metres away from the Karumalaikoodal Police Station.

Sources in the Tamil Nadu PCB said that transport manifest in the possession of the driver described the contents as ferric chloride destined for Bhadravati.

Local residents had reported that the effluents were whitish yellow with a fine sandy ash-like suspension. The stream bed had turned yellow with the formation of a one-inch thick foam.

Member Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board S.D. Jeyaprasad said that the Tamil Nadu PCB had sought help in tracing the origin of the consignment. He said that the tanker lorry was carrying effluents from the Cochin Minerals and Rutiles Ltd (CMRL).

Mr. Jeyaprasad said that the company authorities have denied allegations of dumping of toxic waste in Mettur. He said that the effluents generated by the company were in demand outside Kerala.

The Member Secretary said that the Kerala PCB was investigating the case and would report back to the Tamil Nadu PCB after verifying the facts.

The Mettur incident is the latest in the series of cases where waste generated by companies in Kerala has been dumped in neighbouring States. The Madhukarai police, on the outskirts of Coimbatore, had sought the help of Kerala Police in 2005 to track down a private company based in Aluva, suspected to be involved in dumping of toxic waste in their limits.

The case came to light when the Madhukarai police arrested three persons on August 23 for trying to dump phosphoric acid in one of the open lands.

Local residents had informed that some outsiders were using open land in the area for this purpose.

Toxic waste was found dumped mostly during night hours. However, the accused had no clues about the original source of the toxic waste. They told the police that it was handed over to them through an agent, identity of whom is yet to be traced.

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