KOCHI: The corporation on Wednesday decided to entrust a new agency with the collection of biomedical waste from households in the city. The move comes after repeated complaints over irregular biomedical waste collection and lapses from different corners.
Henceforth, Success Projects will collect the waste at Rs 20 per kg, with the corporation set to pay a subsidy of Rs 8 per kg.
“For the next one month, the new agency will collect biomedical waste from households in all 76 divisions in the corporation. Once the health standing committeeprepares the norms, we will decide on the subsidy and the amount to be paid by the corporation,” Mayor V K Minimol said.
The decision follows lapses and misuse of subsidised waste collection by several households and establishments and complaints against agencies contracted by the corporation, Aakri and Swuchigo. Meanwhile, the Kerala Enviro Infrastructure Limited, the agency that processes biomedical waste, has increased the fee from Rs 28 to Rs 36.
At the same time, LDF and NDA councillors disagreed with the decision to discontinue subsidised waste collection. “The Haritha Karma Sena has increased the user fee for solid waste collection from Rs 150 to Rs 200. Water bill and other costs have also been increasing. In this scenario, increasing the fee for biomedical waste will be a burden on the families of bedridden patients,” said Priya Prashanth, a BJP councillor.
The corporation is currently collecting waste at a subsidised rate of Rs 12 per kg. The corporation pays a subsidy of Rs 28 per kg.The mayor, justifying the decision, said the system should be revised to provide the subsidy directly to consumers to prevent corruption.
“We need to prepare a list of the number of households with bedridden patients, the requirement of waste treatment, etc, for the continuation of the project. The doctors at health and wellness clinics can help provide the data,” Minimol said.
LDF parliamentary party leader V A Sreejith urged a review of the decision. “The corporation has been collecting the waste at a cost of Rs 12. Increasing the amount to Rs 20 will trouble the public,” he said, adding that the LDF does not approve of the move.
The decision to discontinue subsidised waste collection was made in the council meeting held in June. Discussions were held with the waste collection agencies — Aakri, Swuchigo and KEIL — to improve the efficiency of waste collection in the city.
Collection in Kochi
New price
Rs 20 Households pay Rs 12 and corporation pays a subsidy of Rs 8
Old price
Rs 40 Households pay Rs 12 and corporation pays a subsidy of Rs 28
New Agency - Success Projects
Previous agencies - Aakri and Swuchigo
