Waste removal at a fire-damaged storage site in Perumani, near Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, has not reached even one-third of the targeted clearance after the deadline set by the district collector expired on Friday, according to a report by Mathrubhumi. The site contains tonnes of waste, including material left behind after a fire and packets identified as hospital waste.
The district collector had ordered the complete removal of the fire debris and accumulated waste by October 23. The order was issued on October 18 after considering a report from the Kunnathunad tahsildar, which recorded the presence of hospital waste in the stockpile. The collector’s direction required the waste to be handled with the seriousness and scientific treatment considered necessary for biomedical waste.
The waste was stored on a 75-cent plot operated by Green Evo Tech. The facility’s operator, S. Mubarak of Kuttichal in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, and the landowner, K.K. Kochunni of Karothukudi in Allapra, were served notices by the district administration. The order placed the Local Self Government Department joint director and the Vengola panchayat secretary in charge of supervising the removal within the specified period.
A fire broke out at the plastic waste warehouse on October 12 and was brought under control by the fire and rescue services after about 20 hours of effort. Although the fire was contained, a large quantity of waste reportedly remained unburnt, piled to approximately the height of a person. The material includes plastic waste and other waste stored at the site.
Residents in the surrounding area reported physical discomfort after the fire. Elderly people were moved to relatives’ homes, according to the report. The administration also found that waste had mixed with nearby drinking-water sources, creating a serious local health and environmental concern. The presence of hospital waste in the stockpile adds a separate handling and disposal requirement because such material cannot be treated in the same manner as ordinary municipal waste.
The missed deadline has triggered allegations from local residents that those responsible for removing the waste did not act with sufficient urgency. The report does not provide a revised completion schedule or details of the quantity removed so far. It also does not state whether the district administration has initiated any prosecution or imposed penalties following the failure to complete the clearance within the collector’s time limit.
Manoj Moothadan, the MLA who visited the site, called for the removal process to be accelerated and for strong action against those responsible. Rural Superintendent of Police K.S. Sudarshan also visited the location and assured residents that police action would follow. The LSGD joint director and the Vengola panchayat secretary remain responsible for monitoring the cleanup under the collector’s order.
