The Hindu               27.06.2013

Compromise reached on Vadavathoor issue, claims Municipal Chairman

Despite the indefinite agitation over the Vadavathoor
dumping yard entering its tenth day, the Kottayam Municipality is
hopeful of overcoming the deadlock in the issue. Municipal chairman M.P.
Santhosh Kumar informed a council meeting on Wednesday that the
facility is likely to be reopened on Thursday. However, the leaders of
Vijayapuram grama panchayat remained firm on their stand and said they
would oppose the move to reopen the yard.

According
to Mr. Kumar, a compromise was reached at the meeting that was convened
by the District Collector and participated by the leaders of the
municipality and Vijayapuram grama panchayat. December 31, 2014 had been
set as the deadline for permanently resolving the problem of waste
management in Kottayam, he said.

Discussions held

Mr.
Kumar added that he had held discussions with the representatives of
Kerala Hotels and Restaurants Association, residents’ associations,
traders and owners of commercial establishments and had gained their
support for the waste management efforts of the municipality. The civic
body has provided three months for establishing source-level waste
disposal units in all commercial outlets.

As part of
the waste management efforts, the council gave approval to a Rs.
8.72-crore project planned to provide disposal units for residences,
shops and other buildings. The project has been proposed to be conducted
with the support of the State government and the Suchitwa Mission. The
Regional Agro Industrial Development Cooperative (Raidco) has been
entrusted with the responsibility of constructing waste disposal units
for nearly 3200 households. As per of the proposal, 2000 biogas plants,
429 pipe composts, 593 ring composts and 170 vermi-composts will be
provided.

The council also decided to terminate the
agreements with two other establishments for constructing the disposal
units. The councillors belonging to the opposition front criticised the
municipal authorities of their alleged apathetic attitude in taking the
initiative to resolve the present crisis. According to them, the
existing problem could have been prevented by timely implementation of
effective measures.

Denies report

Reacting
to the developments, Vijayapuram grama panchayat president Baiju
Cherukottayil said that there had been no decision on reopening the
yard. According to him, such a move would go against the assurance put
forth by Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan. It would also be
countered by the agitators, he said.

Meanwhile,
the health authorities have cautioned that the delay in ensuring
regular waste collection and disposal in the town could lead to an
outbreak of various diseases. This problem was highlighted in a study
report that was submitted to District Collector Ajith Kumar by District
Medical Officer N.M. Ayshabhai. The unchecked accumulation of garbage at
about 15 designated dumping points could pave way for the spread of
diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue and jaundice in the wake of the
incessant rains, the report said.