Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Kovalam: waste disposal plan pending

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vizhinjam panchayat is yet to submit a detailed proposal sought by Kerala Tourism for garbage disposal in Kovalam, which has stopped in and around the beach resort.

M. Sivasankar, Director, Tourism, recently asked the panchayat to submit the proposal after talks with its authorities for resuming garbage disposal and cleaning the beaches and roads before the peak tourist season.

The panchayat authorities sent a letter sought by Mr. Sivasankar.

“We had asked for an official resolution from the panchayat. But the proposal is yet to reach us,” a tourism official said.

Kerala Tourism had been providing funds to the panchayat to pay Ecopreserve, a non-governmental organisation, carrying out the Zero Waste Project since mid-2005. The nearly 40 cleaning workers from Kudumbasree are also paid.

The garbage disposal got affected when Ecopreserve had to vacate a building on Harbour Road used to segregate waste.

Another site could not be found. Officials said Ecopreserve had announced withdrawal from the project since, it alleged, the panchayat delays the funds.

The panchayat will have to find a new agency now. Official sources said the panchayat should take the initiative in finding a solution to the garbage menace by roping in non-governmental organisations, hoteliers and other stakeholders of the tourism industry and the local community.

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