Dumping menace leaves forest fringes of Erumely in Keralam under siege

Unchecked garbage dumping, including slaughterhouse waste, in forest areas bordering Erumely poses a grave ecological threat, endangering wildlife and disrupting the natural equilibrium of these green spaces. Particularly rampant on the Erumely-Vechoochira, Mukkada-Karimpinthodu and Placheri-Mukkada routes, tonnes of waste are dumped clandestinely each night.

Piles of plastic, food waste and other rubbish have become ubiquitous along these routes, with the issue escalating due to the absence of a proper waste clearance system. Despite warnings from the Forest department and clean-up campaigns by panchayats, panchayat authorities and NGOs, the dumping persists, especially at night.

Earlier this year, the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement, affiliated with the Thiruvalla archdiocese, cleared approximately 10 tonnes of plastic and other waste from a four-kilometer stretch of roadside and forest along the Erumely-Mukkada route. Local residents noted that the stretch between Karimpinthodu and Mukkada is among the most severely affected, with large volumes of waste being disposed of into a nearby stream running through the forest.

Vehicles reportedly stop near the stream and deposit bags of waste therein. Forest authorities warn that the accumulation of waste could bring wild animals closer to human settlements in search of food, potentially leading to encounters with carnivorous predators.

Compounding the issue is the regular burning of the discarded garbage by unidentified individuals. These fires often smolder for days, emitting harmful fumes that threaten both wildlife and nearby residents. In response to the seriousness of the situation, the Forest department intends to bolster surveillance and pursue legal action against those responsible for dumping waste.

The department has already installed surveillance cameras along the Erumely-Vechoochira road in collaboration with an NGO. Plans are also underway to install at least 10 additional cameras along the Karimpinthodu-Mukkada road with support from sponsors and enhanced patrolling in coordination with local panchayats. The department has cautioned that severe legal consequences await anyone caught dumping waste in the area.

Local residents attribute the dumping to restaurants, shops, slaughterhouses, and waste collection units in Erumely, Ranni, and Vechoochira, calling for stricter measures to prevent this practice. They emphasized that organized syndicates appear to be behind the large-scale dumping, stressing the need for proper waste management, regular monitoring, and coordinated action by local authorities and the Forest department to safeguard both people and wildlife in the region.