The Hindu - Kerala 17.08.2009
Work on leachate treatment plant soon
Staff Reporter
| A long-standing demand of the people of Vilappilsala |
Project estimated to cost Rs.1.25 crore
Plant to be built by Pune-based company
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-awaited leachate treatment plant is expected to come up at the Vilappilsala garbage treatment plant in a year or so with the City Corporation awarding the work order for building the plant to a Pune-based company.
Corporation officials said here on Saturday that the work was expected to begin soon after Onam.
The Rs.1.25-crore project is being taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. Leachate from accumulated garbage will be collected in tanks, recycled in an oxidation plant and diverted to the processing plant.
The City Corporation has been under mounting pressure to set up the plant after the Vilappil grama panchayat petitioned M.R. Hariharan Nair, Ombudsman for Local Self-Government Institutions, saying that the leachate was polluting waterbodies in the locality, such as the Meenambally canal, a tributary of the Karamana river.
Mr. Hariharan Nair, who visited the treatment plant, directed the Corporation authorities to take immediate steps to plug the discharge and expedite work to set up the leachate treatment plant.
G.R. Anil, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health of the Corporation, said that following the Ombudsman’s direction, the Corporation dug five soak pits to provide a natural land filter for the leachate. The pits were dug on the recommendations of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board.
Mr. Anil said the Corporation had initiated steps to clean and de-silt the canal with the cooperation of the grama panchayat.
Air-tight vans
The Corporation is planning to buy 10 air-tight garbage vans to transport solid waste to the Vilappilsala treatment plant.
“The tender has been finalised and it will be placed before the next council for approval. Initially, we will be purchasing 10 air-tight vans to transport market waste,” Mr. Anil said.
Corporation Health Officer D. Sreekumar said the modified design for a Rs.7-crore sanitary landfill at the garbage treatment plant had been approved. The design was changed on the recommendations of the Pollution Control Board.
The tender for the work would be floated soon. Mr. Sreekumar said the accumulated garbage at the Vilappilsala treatment plant was being capped.
