Waste management: Corporation initiates talks

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation has kicked off discussions with residents’ associations and elected representatives, in a bid to earn support for its decentralised waste management programme being planned as an alternative to the centralised system at Vilappilsala. On Monday, it held two rounds of discussions - with residents’ association representatives and ‘vyapari vyavasayi’ groups in the morning and with MLAs in the evening.  According to Corporation officials, the residents’ associations have lent their support to the new activities being planned by them for solving the garbage issue in the city. ‘’We have told them how grave the situation is and how their role is important in tackling such a civic issue,’’ said Deputy Mayor G Happykumar. FRAT and TRAC representatives attended the meeting. Mayor K Chandrika said at the meeting that it was up to the residents’ associations to convince residents to take up decentralisation of waste management. She made it clear that the Corporation was sympathetic to the suffering the people in Vilappil were facing, but a sudden closure of the plant would only make matters worse and the problems widespread.  The Corporation is thinking of starting a campaign in the city to take the idea of decentralised garbage treatment to more people. The local body has asked the support of the residents’ associations for this. The associations had earlier paid a visit to Vilappilsala and submitted a set of recommendations to the Corporation. However, with the Corporation now shifting the gear to a decentralised system, it has asked the associations to once again ponder over ways to make garbage management a more problem-free area.  The Corporation has asked the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi and traders’ associations to lend support to the plastic ban (below 40 microns) that was announced a few months ago. A total plastic ban is on the cards as the Corporation has reportedly sought the permission of the state government in this regard.  In the evening, a meeting with MLAs was held at the Council conference hall. The meeting was attended by MLAs K Muraleedharan, V Sivankutty and M A Wahid, while V S Sivakumar and Jameela Prakasam failed to make it to the meeting.  The Corporation officials said that the MLAs have promised their support in the issue. The Mayor said that the Corporation required funds to carry out the decentralisation programme and the MLAs were quick to offer financial assistance too, officials said.  The Corporation will continue meetings with all stakeholders and people and organisations belonging to various quarters to reach a consensus on how to carry forward the programme at a fast pace.