The Kochi Corporation is experimenting with decades-old waste collection and transportation methods during the current festival season by rescheduling collection time and collection of waste from hawkers for a fee.
The collection time of waste from the Ernakulam market circle, which also includes the busy Ernakulam market, may be changed during the Onam season. The proposal is to collect and transport refuse from the area between Ernakulam market and High Court Junction during night hours during the current festival season, considering the maddening rush that the area experiences.
“The area becomes inaccessible for vehicles to pick up refuse during daytime, as traders and shoppers will be jostling for space. The health wing of the corporation is all set for the experiment, and it has prepared a list of its employees who are willing to work during night hours,” said V.K. Minimol, Chairperson of the Health Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation.
Incidentally, the district administration had tried the technique a few decades ago when the District Collector was in charge of the local body. The administration had then claimed it could bring down the fuel bill of vehicles that transported refuse from city roads. As the roads were relatively free of vehicles during night hours, transportation of refuse was a smooth affair, saving considerable energy, it was then claimed.
The local body is repeating the exercise on pilot mode, and the outcome of the experiment will be closely studied. A final call on shifting the collection of refuse will be taken at a meeting to be convened by the Mayor on Thursday, she said.
Collection spots for hawkers
Hawkers who occupy every nook and corner of the city and footpaths during the Onam season will be identified and given identification numbers. After the numbering process, these small-time traders will be asked not to litter roads with refuse, which include plastic covers and paper. Workers from the civic body will directly collect refuse from traders at a nominal fee. A proposal to this effect will be placed before the corporation council shortly, civic officials said.
At present, the local body is in the dark about the number of traders who come to the city for a living during festival seasons. The experiment will also help the local body create a database, an official said.
