The state government is planning to hand over to local bodies, the lead role in the implementation of the waste management projects. Going back from an earlier decision, the Urban Affairs Dept says they will now act only as a facilitator. The Suchitwa Mission will continue to provide technical assistance for such projects.

Consequently, the responsibility of managing the seven state-of-the-art waste management plants, proposed by the government a year ago, in the five Corporations will rest with the respective local bodies.

 M Dileep Kumar, Suchitwa Mission Executive Director said: “We are awaiting a policy decision on this matter. The government will only take a final decision after deliberations. The proposed projects in various cities will not be implemented directly by the state government and instead the respective local bodies will be entrusted with the lead role.”

 He further said that although the role of the state government will be curtailed, it may still play a major part in the tendering process and while deciding on the mode of implementation.

 “In view of a change in policy, the tendering process in Kannur and Ernakulam was cancelled a couple of months back,” Dileep Kumar said.

 Sources said the government was forced to think of a policy shift following certain issues related with the proposed waste management plant at Chalai in Thiruvanthapuram.

 With the mandate shifting to the shoulder of local bodies, they may have to commit buying electricity or other products manufactured by these waste plants, which will be set up in the PPP model.

 Taking a jibe at the government, Kozhikode Mayor A K Premajam said: “More than a year ago government informed that it would implement a waste management project in Kozhikode. But nothing has taken place so far. Any way we will welcome any move to hand over the responsibility of implementation of treatment plants to local bodies”.