The Hindu 09.02.2010
Lalur: fast in front of Corporation today
Staff Reporter
| Intervention of Ombudsman sought |
‘Protest against irresponsible stand towards problems faced by Lalur residents’
Samithy calls for decentralisation of garbage management
Thrissur: Lalur Samara Sahaya Samithy, formed to support the agitation by the Lalur Malineekarana Virudha Samara Samithy, will observe a protest fast in front of the Thrissur Corporation office on Tuesday. Writer and social activist Sukumar Azhikode will inaugurate the agitation.
M. Peethambaran, general convener of the Samara Sahaya Samithy, told reporters that they were forced to protest as the Corporation authorities had been taking an irresponsible and insensitive stand towards the problems faced by the Lalur residents.
Though the relay satyagraha led by the Lalur Malineekarana Viruddha Samara Samithy completed 58 days, the Corporation authorities had not even invited the Samithy leaders for talks, he said.
The Samara Sahaya Samithy sought the intervention of the Ombudsman for Local Self Government Institutions in view of the seriousness of the situation.
In a memorandum submitted to the Mayor, the Samithy called for the decentralisation of garbage management. It urged the City Corporation to take steps to segregate waste at the source. The rules and regulations regarding waste management should be strictly followed. The Corporation should call a meeting of experts in waste management and leaders of the Samara Samithy to find a lasting solution for the issue. People’s monitoring committees should be formed to ensure efficiency and transparency in waste management projects, it said.
The Samara Sahaya Samithy would organise awareness programmes about how individuals and organisations could actively involve in waste management programmes.
Meanwhile, former Mayor K. Radhakrishnan asked the City Corporation to explain as to what extent the ongoing ADB projects at Lalur had progressed to. “Those who had once suggested costly engineered land fill as the solution for Lalur’s problem has been recommending capping of the accumulated rotten garbage. An expert committee should study the efficacy of the ADB’s waste management projects,” he said.
