Lorry with 10 tonnes of poultry waste from Kerala seized

Acting on a tip off that a lorry laden with poultry waste is coming to Pollachi from Palakkad, a team led by Deputy Tahsildar Vasudevan, Revenue Inspector Muthu and VAOs Siva Prakash and Vimal carried out an intensive check all through the night.

Around 5.30 am, the revenue officials intercepted a container lorry on suspicion. As heavy stench emanated from the vehicle, when the officials held an inquiry with three persons, they gave contradicting replies.

They were identified as Muhammed Bashir, 26, Sibin, 24 and a 16-year-old boy, all hailing from Kerala. The officials seized the vehicle and took it to the Municipality dumping yard in Nallur.

As the news of seizure spread, villagers gathered and broke into a quarrel with officials insisting not to allow dumping of waste in the yard. Then several people unable to bear the stench from the poultry waste suffered from nausea and vomiting. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the poultry waste was brought to a private firm in Gomangalam area.  

Lorry owners visiting Kerala with goods do not wish to return empty and are lured by agents to adopt such illegal activities.

Pollachi Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) Ravi Kumar said that the poultry waste has been brought through Walayar check post in Coimbatore outskirts following intensive checks at Gopalapuram check post in Pollachi.

“A team from the revenue department will be constituted to carry out regular checks to prevent vehicles bringing poultry waste into Tamil Nadu. Also stringent action, including permanent seizure of vehicles used to transport waste will be taken against the offenders,” he said.

Pollachi Government Hospital Resident Medical Officer Raja said that disposing the poultry waste in an unhygienic manner may result in an outbreak of typhoid, cholera and other diseases. “The waste should be disposed underground in a scientific way,” he added.

Officials are yet to decide if the waste needs to be sent back to Kerala or should be disposed safely here after penalising the offenders.

Meanwhile, the villagers wanted cops to intensify vigil in check posts on Tamil Nadu-Kerala borders to prevent lorries clandestinely bringing waste into the state.