The ruling United Democratic Front in Kalamassery municipality has passed a resolution protesting alleged lapses in the management of waste generated at the Govt. Medical College Hospital, Ernakulam.
The resolution, which was passed at the council meeting held on Thursday, blamed the hospital management for not taking necessary measures in ensuring proper waste management as per the directives issued by the Kerala State Pollution Control Board.
The gaps in waste management will be brought to the notice of Health Minister K. Muraleedharan, and Ernakulam District Collector G. Priyanka, said Ansar Thoreth, councillor of HMT Estate ward, who moved the resolution. The council meeting also demanded a vigilance probe into the alleged corruption and illegal appointments in the hospital over the last few years. It entrusted Jamal Manakkadan, chairperson of the civic body, to submit a petition before the government and V. E Abdul Ghafoor, Minister for Fisheries and MLA of Kalamassery, seeking a vigilance probe, he said.
The ruling councillors recalled that the Kerala State Pollution Control Board, which inspected the hospital campus in February 2026, had found that large number of plastic bags containing solid waste, including biodegradable waste, paper and plastic were dumped in the parking area. The agency also found that earthen pits had been dug and solid waste dumped for burial. In its reply, the hospital management had then said that an agency had been appointed through a tendering process to transport the waste. It also claimed that the daily waste generated on the campus is being transported regularly.
The Left front councillors opposed the resolution, alleging that it lacked clarity on who is responsible for the lapses in waste management. The resolution also failed to name any official or person responsible for it, said K.T. Manoj, Communist Party of India (Marxist) councillor. Dr. Ganesh Mohan, superintendent of the medical college, did not comment on the allegations.
Published – May 22, 2026 04:42 pm IST
