KSPCB Confirms Illegal Biomedical Waste Transportation from Kerala to Mangaluru

In a significant development, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Chairman, PM Narendra Swamy, confirmed the illegal transportation of biomedical waste from Kerala to Mangaluru. During a press conference on Saturday, he revealed that Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) had seized several trucks involved in this illegal activity, which included dumping medical waste into rivers and stormwater drains. This hazardous practice poses serious health and environmental risks.

Swamy stressed the critical nature of the situation, warning that continued violations could escalate into a public health crisis. He stated, “If this continues, a pandemic could occur. We have directed the MCC to take strict action against these illegal activities.”

Earlier, during the ‘Hombelaku’ sports and cultural meet for elected representatives and employees of urban local bodies and gram panchayats from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts at Sahyadri College of Engineering and Management in Adyar, Swamy discussed the inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure in Kerala. He emphasized the need for stronger measures to prevent waste disposal from neighboring states into Karnataka’s territory.

Swamy urged both residents and officials to stay vigilant and promptly report such incidents to relevant authorities. The MCC had already cracked down on a network illegally transporting sewage from Kerala via Talapady to Mangaluru, with penalties imposed on the offending tankers, and police cases registered.

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