THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Protest is brewing against a proposal to establish a waste-to-electricity plant at Peringamala in Thiruvananthapuram. The local residents, who have arrayed themselves under an action council, allege the waste-based project will lead to large-scale pollution and environmental destruction in the region.
The location identified for the project is surrounded by forest land and also houses a tribal settlement on one side. Moreover, it is located on the banks of a tributary of the Vamanapuram River which houses numerous water supply schemes.
According to the residents, the land was originally handed over by the Forest Department for establishing a district agriculture farm and banana nursery.
Electricity Minister M M Mani had, in a written reply in the Assembly on Thursday, listed Peringamala as one of the six locations identified for waste-to-energy projects in the state.