THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The top officials of Sanitation Mission, which has been entrusted with the task of preparing a detailed report on the temporary methods which could be adopted at Vilappilsala waste treatment plant for solid waste management, would visit the plant on Thursday.The officials are likely to submit their report on Friday itself.It was at the meeting called by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday that the Sanitation Mission was given the responsibility of suggesting temporary measures to tackle waste management until the government arrives at a suitable technology.According to Sanitation Mission officials, the visit to Vilappilsala plant is to assess the present situation, the volume of waste management being done there, the process, the complaints raised by the local people and the truth in it, possible steps that could be taken to avoid public resentment and so on."The government has in principle decided to shut down the plant. It is toying with the idea of new technologies for waste management which are known to have a lesser impact on the ecosystem and on the health of the people. But that would require time, which is why the government has asked for at least eight months for the total shutdown of the plant. Till then, some temporary method has to be employed which would not put the local people in difficulty and which would not affect the waste disposal in the city,’’ said a top official.It is to arrive at this temporary step that the officials, along with Corporation officials, would pay a visit to the plant on Thursday. Since the Janakeeya Samithi has called for a blockade of vehicles carrying garbage to the plant from Sunday, the Mission is likely to submit its report on Friday itself.The government would then study the report and hold a second round of discussion with the striking local people and the Corporation soon after. However, it is more than clear that any new methodology would require time. Also, local people fear the possibility of a new technology, whatever it may be, coming up in the same place where the treatment plant is now situated. They are demanding a complete makeover of the Vilappil area by deleting its notoriety of being a stinking place."Whatever technology is arrived at next should not burden Vilappil alone. It must be everybody’s concern,’’ said a leader of the Janakeeya Samithi.The Corporation, meanwhile, is all for decentralisation of waste management and is going ahead with plans for it. However, if it is not given ample time, the capital city might face serious garbage issues in the coming days.
Comments
0 comment