The State government is in contempt of court for not having implemented the directions of the Supreme Court regarding solid waste management, V. Sivankutty, MLA, said in a press release issued here on Saturday.
It has been two years since the apex court upheld the Kerala High Court directive to the government to provide police protection for the transportation of garbage to the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant.
Mr. Sivankutty said that the plant was set up in adherence to Municipal Solid Waste (Managing and Handling) Rules 2000 that includes a section on the importance of public participation. The plant had the capability of processing 192 tonnes of garbage daily, the release said. The plant’s functioning was approved by the Pollution Control Board. The PCB had also sanctioned the installation of a leachete treatment plant, a sanitary landfill and capping.
The MLA said meetings had been held in this regard in 2011, when Chief Minister Oommen Chandy met with stakeholders including members of the Vilappilsala Janakeeya Samithi, the panchayat and Corporation and stressed for the issues in the plant to be addressed quickly and efficiently. The High Court had also specified for a reduced 90 tonnes of waste to be taken to the plant, which the government failed to follow through, Mr. Sivankutty said.
