THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Around 55 Kudumbashree workers who barged into the portico of the Corporation building here on Friday were arrested by the police. They were protesting against the raw deal meted out to Cleanwell workers who lost their jobs after the closure of the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant.
Illegal Constructions
Meanwhile, the Corporation Council which met here resolved to act tough against illegal constructions in the Corporation limits. While rejecting an appeal petition filed by a hotelier in Kowdiar against the ‘exorbitant’ tax assessment, the Council observed that several traders in the city had made illegal constructions.
The Mayor informed the Council that legal steps will be taken against the offenders, including the closure of such establishments. The Council also passed the receipt and payment statement for the months of May and June.
Pongala
Health Standing Committee chairperson S Pushpalatha informed the Council that the unauthorised slaughter houses in the city will be asked to remain closed during the Attukal Pongala festival days.
Plastic waste
The Corporation Council decided to write to the Cochin Refineries asking the possibility of using plastic for tar production. The project wing of the Corporation is exploring the possibility of separating plastic materials from the waste to be transported to the Vilappilsala biofertiliser plant.
The Corporation Council passed a resolution sanctioning ` 1,93,811 as ESI arrears pending for the staff employed by the Centre for Environment and Development at the biofertlisier unit at Vilappilsala.
Corp Advocates
The discussion on the resolution sanctioning ` 48,000 for an advocate of the Corporation witnessed the UDF councillors raising apprehensions on the ‘loyalty’ of Corporation advocates. K Maheswaran Nair of the Opposition alleged that some Corporation advocates had purposefully failed the Corporation in certain cases. The LDF members raised strong opposition to Nair’s statement with Deputy Mayor Happykumar stating that the advocates’ panel of Corporation was faring well in a majority of the cases, including the High Court case on the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant.
Adjournment Motions
The Council passed an adjournment motion mooted by Works Committee standing chairman VS Padmakumar seeking a three-month additional time for executing works as part of the Eleventh Plan Fund. The discussion on the adjournment motion led to heated debates.