Thodupuzha: The Karimannoor panchayat has imposed penalties in connection with the illegal dumping of waste on a private property. The landowner has been fined ₹10,000, while the company responsible for transporting the waste has been slapped with ₹50,000.

The incident came to light last week when four truckloads of waste were found buried in a one-and-a-half-acre rubber plantation in the seventh ward, Pazhookkara, reportedly with the consent of the property owner. A similar case had been reported about six weeks ago in ward 12, where the panchayat had also penalised both the landowner and the company involved.

According to Panchayat Secretary (in charge) Mercy George, the heavier fine imposed on the company was due to repeated violations. She added that the panchayat plans to install surveillance cameras in remote and uninhabited locations to curb illegal dumping, and preparatory work is already in progress.

The issue, however, extends beyond Karimannoor panchayat. Waste dumping remains widespread in other parts of the town lacking camera surveillance. Waste from chicken stalls is frequently discarded in empty plots and even into canals. Residents have called for stringent action, noting that dumping—which was once done secretly at night—is now happening brazenly in broad daylight.