COIMBATORE: State environment and pollution control minister Siva V Meyyanathan has warned against dumping of medical waste and debris in water bodies.
Meyyanathan who held a review meeting with officials in Coimbatore on Friday instructed the officials of the state pollution control board to ensure that the medical waste and construction debris were being disposed of as per rules.
Not only water bodies, such waste should not be dumped in street corners, sewerage lines or vacant lands, he warned.
On the part of the local bodies, Meyyanathan said, degradable and non – biodegradable waste should be collected separately, and reusable waste should be sent for recycling. Pollution control board officials should keep a watch whether industrial units dispose waste in adherence to rules. “Pollution control board officials should take action on industrial units that dispose solid and liquid waste in water bodies,’’ he said.
Meyyanathan also suggested that urban afforestation should be carried out in cities and towns under Miyawaki method and increase the green cover of the district.
The minister, accompanied by collector G S Sameeran and other officials, visited Vellalore garbage yard where he inspected the production of manure from waste and scientific disposal of medical waste using incinerators there.
Meyyanathan, who is also the youth and sports welfare minister, visited the Nehru stadium earlier in the day and inspected the hockey turf at R S Puram. He said efforts are being taken to convert the hockey turf on par with international turfs. A detailed project report would be prepared for the purpose, he said.
Similarly, infrastructure for other sporting activities would also be improved, he said. He said the government wanted to draw 25 lakh youth into various sports in the state.
