T’Puram: The State Government has mooted a package for solving the crisis at Vilappilsala. At a meeting called by Urban Affairs Minister P K Kunhalikutty, it was suggested that the government would promote the decentralised waste management project started by the Corporation and would find a suitable place in the district to set up a centralised plant working on an advanced technology.
A decision on when to open the plant was not taken at the meeting.
However, the government suggested that the panchayat should abide by the High Court order and allow the existing plant to be functional.
The Vilappil panchayat has sought five days time to think over the suggestion and give a reply.
The Corporation officials are miffed over the State Government’s stand giving more time to the panchayat to decide on the future of the plant when there is a court order and a Lok Ayukta order pending asking them to open the plant. Mayor K Chandrika said that the stand taken by the State Government was confusing and disappointing.
The panchayat officials said at the meeting that they respected the court’s order and needed five more days to think about the package.
The government sources said that the subdued response of the panchayat indicated that they were willing to abide by the law. However, the panchayat might put forward their own conditions in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, government sources said that the Urban Affairs Department would give shape to the package along with the Corporation in the coming days and would be presented to the panchayat in the next meeting.
LDF Sit-in Called Off
T’Puram: The LDF sit-in in front of the residence of CM Oommen Chandy has been called off temporarily in view of the HC order concerning the Vilappilsala plant and the decisions taken at Tuesday’s meeting convened by Urban Affairs Minister P K Kunhalikutty, LDF parliamentary party leader in the T’Puram Corporation V S Padmakumar said.