IIT-M’s chem waste endangers wildlife

Antony Rubin, a city-based animal rights activist, said that he found used chemical bottles dumped behind the laboratory. 

“Some of them were broken, posing a threat to not only the blackbucks but also other wildlife,” said Rubin, who had filed a case against IIT at the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal, after an RTI response revealed that 220 deer and eight blackbucks have died between 20142016 on the premises. 

“I saw deer and some animals foraging in that pile, where some of the garbage was burnt. The bottles clearly have hazardous symbol on the label. IIT-M has a tie-up with hazardous materials disposal unit in Gummidipoondi but these bottles and other hazardous materials have been dumped on the campus,” said the activist. This comes just days after a blackbuck fawn was found dead, allegedly mauled by stray dogs.