Criticising the State government for adopting a “step-motherly attitude” to the city Corporation, Mayor K. Chandrika, on Friday, said the UDF government was trying to stifle the functioning of the civic body, the latest hurdle being the move to transfer long-serving officers in the health and works wing of the Corporation. This was at a time when the State government was supposed to provide assistance to deal with monsoon-related woes, she added.
“First, they tried to put hurdles by closing down the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant. Then the secretaries were transferred frequently, thereby trying to slow down the momentum. Now, at a crucial time, they want to transfer officers who have been handling important functions connected to monsoon preparedness,” she told The Hindu . Despite the closure of Vilappilsala plant, the Corporation was able to handle the situation to an extent by promoting decentralised garbage management systems such as pipe-composting and biogas plants. With monsoon around the corner and the threat of outbreak of infectious diseases looming large, such stopgap arrangements would not suffice, the Mayor said.
“We will formally make a representation on Friday to the Chief Minister seeking his immediate intervention in sorting out the garbage problem. The problem can be solved only if the government lends a helping hand to identify a place to dump the waste,” she said.
