Kerala human rights panel appoints ex-Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand to monitor waste management in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation

Even as the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation authorities in Kerala face heat over waste management failures, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) appointed a special rapporteur-cum-special monitor to evaluate and advise on various issues involved in solid waste disposal in the city. The commission, which had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue in July, has now appointed former Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand as the special monitor, with a two-member team of experts to aid him.

The commission had initiated the proceedings after noting that the Corporation was facing a huge crisis after canals and water bodies were found to be filled up with huge amount of waste materials, including plastics. The Pazhavangadi canal, Thekkanamkara canal and other canals had turned huge waste carriers, with large quantities of waste being dumped illegally. The drainages adjacent to the public roads were not being cleaned regularly, the SHRC noted.