THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Centralised waste treatment facilities would soon come up in all major cities, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said here on Wednesday. The tendering process has begun and the involvement of international experts in the field of waste management has been ensured, he added.
The Chief Minister was inaugurating three new live air quality monitoring stations set up by the State Pollution Control Board. He also distributed the board’s environment conservation awards to various organisations.
Pinarayi said centralised waste treatment facilities are also needed in cities along with waste treatment at source. Environment conservation and pollution control are topics that are being seriously debated the world over. The increase in waste has also contributed to many diseases, he said.Expressing concern over the pollution of water bodies in the state, the Chief Minister said the people themselves have voluntarily come forward to clean rivers and ponds. “We should give our future generation a secure environment, clean water and good food,” Pinarayi said.
The CM noted that a piece of legislation should be enacted and proper awareness should be created among people to prevent pollution of air, water and soil. Industries Minister A C Moideen said the government is considering amendments to the existing laws so that investors will be able to start business ventures within 30 days. The aim of the Pollution Control Board should be to curb pollution and not to shut down industries, he said.
Awards for excellence in environment conservation
The Chief Minister presented awards to organisations under various categories for excellence in environment conservation efforts.The excellence awardees are: BPCL-Kochi Refinery, Kochi (very large-scale industry), Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd, Aluva (large-scale industry), Plant Lipids Pvt Ltd, Kolencherry (medium - group A), Classic Paints, Alappuzha (small-scale).Manaval Granites Pvt Ltd, Pathanamthitta (stone crusher), ERCMPU Ltd, Tripunithura (dairy), MMTV Ltd and Malayala Manorama Co Ltd, Alappuzha (print and visual media), Hilton Garden Inn, Thiruvananthapuram (hotel), Taluk Headquarters Hospital, Punalur (taluk hospital), Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi (medical college / autonomous hospital). Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences, Calicut (private hospital with more than 500 beds), AKG Memorial Cooperative Hospital, Kannur (private hospital with 200 to 500 beds), Alhalia Health Heritage and Knowledge Village, Palakkad (others), CIAL (Others) and MRF Ltd, Kottayam.
The first prize winners under various categories are: MRF Ltd, Kottayam (very large-scale industry), United Breweries Ltd, Palakkad (large-scale industry), Kerala Sate Cooperative Hospital Complex & Centre for Advanced Medical Services, Pariyaram (hospital /medical college) and Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva (hospital - private - with less than 500 beds).