THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to set up pipe-compost units for waste disposal in one lakh houses in the Corporation limits. The units would be set up by accredited agencies, recognised service providers and voluntary organisations, according to the specifications set by the Corporation. A single unit will cost Rs 813, of which Rs 203 should be met by the beneficiary and the rest would be subsidy.
Implementation
The unit comprises two pipes of 200 mm circumference and 1 m height each. The Corporation would also implement biogas plants and vermi-compost units as part of its decentralised solid waste management project.
The Corporation has also announced large-scale campaign programmes to create awareness among the public. A Corporation-level committee and Corporation-level working committee and ward-level committees will be formed for the effective implementation of the project. The Corporation-level committee headed by the Mayor would oversee the activities.
Concern Over Plastic Waste
In the discussion that followed, the councillors raised apprehensions over the possible flaws in the project. ‘’The Corporation should also think about the plastic waste management as the ring compost units would only be useful for biowaste,’’ said Sreekumar.
‘’The violation of the ban on plastic kits below the fixed micron level is still rampant in the city,’’ said M B Rasmi.
‘’Complaints on housefly menace were reported at some places where ring compost units are already in use. This should be inspected,’’ said M R Gopan.
Health Wing Flayed
UDF leader K Maheswaran Nair urged the Mayor to ask the Corporation officials to extend full support to the Council decisions. ‘’The health wing should become more active and the junior health inspectors should be given instructions in this regard,’’ he said.
V S Padmakumar said that the health wing should be strengthened. ‘’The health wing still has only one health officer and two assistant health officers, the staff strength when the Corporation had only 50 wards. The Government should be urged to appoint more officials considering the increase in the volume of work,’’ he said.
Illegal Slaughter Houses
BJP member P Asok Kumar said that the illegal slaughter houses should be asked to close down till the Pongala festival is over.
‘’Though the previous Council had taken a decision in this regard, slaughter houses which display meat in front of the shops still function in Attakulangara and Manacaud areas,’’ he said.
Maheswaran Nair, who joined the issue, added that the Corporation should also take action against wayside eateries which dump waste in public places.