The Hindu 29.03.2013
Thrikkakara grapples with waste management
Even as Thrikkakara attracts more people on account of
its rising profile as the Information Technology hub, the municipal
authorities are grappling with rising solid waste generation it entails.
However,
the municipal authorities are talking in different voices when it comes
to waste management, which was visible during the recent Budget.
In
the introductory remarks to the Budget, municipal chairman P.I.
Mohammadali expressed hope of getting a solid waste treatment plant off
the block during the 2013-14 fiscal itself. However, the budget
presented by vice-chairperson Shereena Shukkoor does not figure
allotment against specific proposal for a waste treatment plant.
Under
the head of solid waste treatment, the budget allocated only Rs. 5 lakh
towards transportation cost and remuneration of employees engaged in
the movement of solid waste to the treatment plant of Kochi Corporation
at Brahmapuram and another Rs. 10 lakh for erecting surveillance cameras
to check littering on roadsides.
Though not
apparent, Ms. Shukkoor claimed that there was a budgetary provision to
the tune of almost Rs. 1.50 crore collectively for public health and
solid waste treatment. “This fund can be used among other things for
purchase of land for the proposed plant. Besides, another Rs. 10 lakh
has been provided, which was later increased to Rs. 30 lakh following
the debate on the Budget, for buying compact vehicles to collect waste
in localities with narrow roads,” she said.
However,
it is clear that the proposed plant, if any, is some distance away. Ms.
Shukkoor said a project for treatment plant needs to be worked out after
visiting similar facilities elsewhere.
But municipal
health standing committee chairman V.D. Suresh said a waste treatment
plant was unlikely considering the difficulty in finding land and
opposition from the local public. “We will have to continue disposing
waste at Brahmapuram for the foreseeable future. Instead, we are now
focusing on treatment of waste at the point of generation through the
distribution of biogas plants and pipe compost units,” he said.
Thrikkakara
Residents’ Association Apex Council (TRAAC) president M. Anilkumar said
the municipality was unimaginative when it comes to tackling solid
waste. “They are talking of 1,000 biogas plants when there are about
20,000 households and an equal number of industrial units in the
municipal limits. The budget allocates Rs. 25 lakh for roads in each
ward while there are no concrete proposals towards waste management,” he
said.
T.K. Asharaf, Corporation’s health standing
committee chairman, said disposal of the municipal waste at Brahmapuram
plant was not an issue considering that it has a capacity to handle 250
tonnes of biodegradable waste a day. Rema Saju, president,
Vadavucode-Puthencruz panchayat where the plant is located, said the
panchayat was not in favour of dumping waste from other municipalities
apart from the Corporation. “But our opposition doesn’t count. We are
helpless,” she said.
“The
municipality is talking of 1,000 biogas plants when there are about
20,000 households and an equal number of industrial units in the
municipal limits. There is no concrete proposals towards waste
management.”