THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: On the border, they keep vigil against the enemy. In the relatively tranquil land of Lord Padmanabha too, the Army is keeping its eyes peeled - for trash.
With the city’s garbage collection in disarray, mischief-makers have taken to chucking waste on to roadsides and any convenient spot on the sly, often from speeding vehicles.
Two favourite dumping spots have turned out to be PTP Nagar and Pangode, much to the dismay of the Military Station, Pangode. Faced with garbage bombardment, the Army has now stationed guards and taken to patrolling the area to prevent its neighbourhood from turning into a trash dump.
‘’We found that people were dumping waste at PTP Nagar, where we have our officers’ quarters. At Pangode too, trash was being dumped on land opposite the Parade Ground. We have now posted guards,’’ Military Station Commander Brigadier Pradeep Narayanan said.
Pangode being one of the cleaner and greener environs within the city, the Army’s endeavour is to preserve it as such. ‘’With the Army posting guards, the dumping has been checked somewhat. Earlier, by 10.30-11 pm, people used to dump chicken wastes in the area,’’ said Pangode ward councillor A Geethakumari.
‘’We had even caught two people. Still, there are stray incidents,’’ she said.
Ever since garbage collection came to a standstill 17 days ago, the police have registered several cases in various parts of the district against garbage ‘chuckers.’ In many cases, the culprits were nabbed by alert local people. The military station used to bank on Kudumbashree Cleanwell workers for removing waste from the station; but now, Armymen have taken to burying or burning it.
Akkulam, where the IAF’s southern command has its HQ, also is plagued by the dumping of garbage. ‘’Garbage was being dumped on the roadside. But the local residents’ associations are now watchful against such mischief,’’ a Defence spokesperson said.