Stakeholder intransigence is threatening to prolong a garbage crisis in the Capital City with ‘affected' people gathering in a show of strength in front of the Government Secretariat here on Monday.
They had come from suburban Vilappilsala, the site of an ill-fated solid waste treatment plant, which they had forced closure to on December 21 over charges of alleged environment pollution and water contamination.
UNITED OPPOSITION
They said that the leachate (waste flowing out of matter in liquid form) generated from uncapped landfills inside the plant often found its way into the adjoining Karamana River.
Another major issue is the stench fanned into the neighbourhood from putrefying waste in the ‘windrow composts' housed within.
The latest demonstration was to show their united opposition to any move on the part of the State Government to reopen the plant as per orders to the effect issued by the Kerala High Court on Monday last.
The High Court had also proceeded to direct the State Government to allow entry of garbage-laden trucks into the plant.
The plant may be reopened with immediate effect and treatment of degradable wastes resumed, it said. The State Government was also told to provide necessary police protection to the plant.
GARBAGE PILE-UP
The interim order was issued while considering a plea submitted by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which is primarily responsible for management of waste generated in its backyard.
On Monday, however, the Corporation threw the ball into the State Government's court saying it did not want to create an ugly law and order situation by forcibly driving garbage trucks into Vilappilsala.
A spokesman for the Corporation said it was willing to play ball only if the State Government came up with any ‘viable' or ‘doable' alternate proposal.
TALKS FAIL
Several rounds of talks initiated by the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, and the Minister for Industries and Local Affairs, Mr P. K. Kunhalikkutty, have failed to cut ice with representatives of the people's action committee from Vilappilsala.
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The Vilappil Panchayat Janakeeya Samiti, which spearheads the protests, has reiterated that it would not allow a single laden truck to cross into the village.
A State Government official described this as a test case for assessing the preparedness, or the lack of it, of cities and towns in dealing with new-age urban crises with implications for public health, societal peace and general law and order.