Corporation set to push deadline

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation might offer a reprieve to the hotels and hospitals by giving them more time to zero in on a waste disposal mechanism instead of dumping the responsibility on the local body. Though August 31 was the deadline set earlier, the Corporation is thinking of giving an extension for a couple of months more for its smooth implementation. The Health Office circle offices of the Corporation are busy sending out notices to hospitals (including private ones), small hotels and wedding auditoriums which do not own an individual waste disposal mechanism. They have been asked to seek a waste disposal facility and inform the Corporation by August 31. However, the Corporation has been receiving a big number of queries from the hospitals and hotels either asking for a disposal method or demanding time to set up one.  ‘’It is as part of decentralising waste collection and treatment that we decided to ask the small hotels, restaurants and hospitals to own up the responsibility of the disposal of waste generated in their compounds. The setting up of mini-treatment plants has been included in the annual plan, but it might take some time. By then, we expect such institutions to come up with their own facilities,’’ said S Pushpalatha, Health Standing Committee chairperson.  However, with most of them seeking more time to set up waste treatment facility, the Corporation is having second thoughts about forcing a deadline on August 31 itself. ‘’The Council might give more time for the hotels and hospitals to find and install a waste treatment plant on their compounds. Many people have been calling us for suggestions and asking where they could find a suitable option,’’ said Health Officer D Sreekumar.  The Corporation was forced to think of decentralising waste collection following the resentment of locals in Vilappilsala, where the treatment plant is located. Though a pilot mode has been initiated at Muttada, the Mayor’s own ward, nothing has been moved in this direction ever since the Corporation promised to set up mini-plants in at least eight wards.  Meanwhile, with the stir at Vilappilsala gaining more intensity with each passing day, the Corporation is desperately seeking new ways to reduce transportation of waste to that place.