KOLLAM: Despite Kollam earning praise under the Malinyamuktha Nava Keralam (Waste-Free New Kerala) initiative, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The city, still grappling with widespread pollution, finds its water bodies choked with plastic, coastal areas buried in litter, and open dumping of waste an everyday affair.
One of the worst-hit zones is the Kollam Port, now resembling a vast, unmanaged dump yard. Food scraps, liquor bottles, discarded footwear, milk sachets, plastic packaging, and paper waste from nearby shops are strewn across the area. Although the Clean Kerala Mission had once taken the lead in clearing accumulated waste here, that effort has long since been discontinued. Even when clean-up drives occur, new heaps of garbage replace the cleared ones in just days.
Illegal dumping is rampant along the Kollam Canal, particularly from Kondoth Bridge to Kachikkadavu. Here, waste isn’t just thrown—it’s often burned, releasing hazardous fumes into nearby residential areas. Locals claim this activity mostly happens at night, concealed by overgrown vegetation. The unchecked dumping has also worsened the stray dog menace in the area.
In Ward 6, between Mundakkal and Papanasham, eroded coastal stretches are now turning into makeshift dumping sites. The Kollam Canal and surrounding localities like Vedikkunnu continue to suffer from relentless waste accumulation.
Even tourist areas like the beach aren’t spared. Despite bottle booths placed for plastic collection, wrappers and junk are casually tossed nearby. Ironically, these booths are now misused to stuff non-plastic waste, rendering them ineffective.