THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: K Vasuki, the new District Collector who took charge on Tuesday, is optimistic about implementing an effective waste treatment mechanism in the district.
Waste treatment is high on the agenda for this young IAS officer, who was the Executive Director of the Kerala Suchitwa Mission. Speaking to T’Puram Express, Vasuki said a new system is the need of the hour to treat waste which has been a longstanding problem in the district.
“I will lay stress on waste recycling process rather than setting up of a new waste treatment plant like the one in Vilappilshala,” she said. “I feel a new system should be in place in terms of technology. It doesn’t mean a new plant will be established. Since waste treatment has become a social issue, a ‘social change’ is required to implement a waste treatment mechanism in an effective manner. So starting a plant is not my priority,” Vasuki said.
Earlier, Vasuki had called Vilappilsala a ‘ticking time bomb’. And the danger still persists. The leachate flow can cause health problems among the local inhabitants.
When she was the director of the Suchitwa mission, she had said bio-remediation measures are essential to treat the waste properly. However, she had also sought the cooperation of local people for its successful implementation. Similarly, Vasuki had said parameters like ‘door-to-door collection of waste’ or a ‘waste processing plant’ are not applicable in cities like Thiruvananthapuram.
She said the focus has been on behavioural change. As part of the change, people begin processing organic waste at the source itself. Vasuki had approached the city corporation seeking their support to treat waste. She was also instrumental in implementing a plastic free capital. Be it Attukal Pongala or the National games which were held in 2015, Vasuki’s efforts to make it a plastic free event got accolades from all quarters.
‘Operation Anantha to be restored’
Vasuki said she will initiate steps to restore ‘Operation Anantha’, a flood mitigation project of the district administration, which has been inactive for quite some time.
The ambitious project was launched by former Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson and former District Collector Biju Prabhakar. Interestingly, Vasuki was Thomson’s secretary during the eviction drive which was conducted as part of the operation. “I need to study the present situation first after holding discussions with my fellow officials. Later, I will definitely take measures to revive the project,” she added.
The agenda
A new system is the need of the hour to treat waste which has been a long standing problem in the district
Parameters like ‘door-to-door collection of waste’ or a ‘waste processing plant’ are not applicable in cities like Thiruvananthapuram
Will initiate steps to restore ‘Operation Anantha’, a flood mitigation project of the district administration, which has been inactive for quite some time