Expired drugs dumped on Kuduvaiyaru banks

PUDUCHERRY: A truck load of expired medicines  including capsules, tablets, ointment, syrups and injections were found dumped on the bank of Kuduvaiyaru river in Uruvaiyaru, Villianur Commune. It has been lying there for the past three days, posing a threat to ground water. Acting on the directions of the director, local administration, a team comprising Seetharaman, commissioner Villianur commune panchayat, N Ramesh, environmental engineer, Pondicherry pollution control committee, and SI Senthil held an investigation on Thursday.  They found that all the items were manufactured in Haridwar and marketed by a Mumbai- based organisation. It is suspected that unsold drugs had been dumped by a pharmaceutical stockiest and dealer in an unscientific way. The team has decided to dispose of the drugs in a secured landfill consisting of high density polyethylene sheets, which would prevent penetration to ground water.Neither the police nor the drugs administration authorities have taken any action. The police say that they have not registered any case as there has been no complaint from any authority. The drug administration authorities could not be reached for clarification.There have been a few incidents in the past of unregulated disposal of expired medicines and chocolates on the bank of Sankarabarani river and at Thengaithittu near the harbour. Unless action is taken to regulate such dangerous disposal, it will continue to happen.