THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dumping of tonnes of electronic and mixed waste, suspected to have originated from Kerala, on a plot in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district has once again exposed the persistent problem of illegal cross-border waste transportation and has revived concerns over enforcement failures especially after the biomedical waste dumping controversy that forced intervention by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
Around 10 tonnes of waste comprising electronic scrap, discarded mobile phone components, plastic waste, damaged car seats, electrical wires, thermocol from dismantled refrigerators and tablets were discovered dumped at Keezha Kadayam panchayat in Tenkasi.
According to Keezha Kadayam panchayat authorities, the waste was found about 100 feet from the Kadayam-Tenkasi Road, near a burial ground of the panchayat.
The latest incident has intensified questions over Kerala’s waste management ecosystem, particularly the monitoring of waste transporters and the disposal of electronic waste generated by municipalities, commercial establishments and private agencies. Following complaints, the Kadayam police registered a case against unidentified persons and launched an investigation.
Keezha Kadayam panchayat president Jeyasakthivel told TNIE that the local body had demanded that the waste be removed immediately and taken back by those responsible.
“As per preliminary examination, the dumped material which included electronic waste, plastic and leather waste originated from Kerala. We have recovered some documents from the heap of waste which clearly indicate that it’s from Kerala.
The panchayat authorities have escalated the matter with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board and state officials,” he said. “This is causing pollution in the region and we lack infrastructure to process such waste. This waste has to be taken back by those who brought it from Kerala. We are trying to ensure that happens,” said Jeyasakthivel.
In December 2024, tonnes of biomedical waste traced to Kerala was found dumped in neighbouring Tirunelveli district and subsequently the National Green Tribunal took suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed the Kerala government to retrieve the waste. More than 30 truckloads were subsequently transported back to Kerala under official supervision last year.
A senior official of the local self-government department said that the government is yet to verify the facts regarding the incident.
“We are aware of the incident but don’t know the actual facts. The only authorised agency that transports this category of waste from here is Clean Kerala Company Ltd (CKCL). There are also a few private agencies. We are looking into the matter and waiting for responses from the Tamil Nadu government,” the official said.
