Kalamassery: A K Nishad, standing committee chairperson of Kalamassery municipality in Ernakulam district, has said that based on the directives of Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh, the local body will initiate legal measures over the issue of waste-dumping on land belonging to the HMT. HMT had recently informed the municipality that the company was not responsible for the garbage piling up on its land.

Meanwhile, the municipality organised a mass cleaning drive by its own workers on HMT Road and Seaport – Airport Road. During the cleaning on HMT’s property and PWD land, garbage from the Puma showroom, located in Choornikkara panchayat, was found and a fine of ₹10,000 was imposed on the establishment.

Nishad said that notices will be sent to people whose addresses were found among the waste items. “Dumping of garbage, including septage and leftovers in hotels, from other local bodies has become common on the open land owned by HMT,” added Nishad.

Kalamassery municipality recently imposed a fine of ₹5.34 lakh on three luxury hotels located in Ernakulam for dumping waste in the local body. A few vehicles dumping septage were seized with the assistance of the police and handed over to the court.

“The municipality is also conducting mass cleaning programmes and tree-planting events along with NSS units in colleges and various organisations,” said the standing committee chairperson. Junior health inspector Sherin led the cleaning drive on HMT land.