The spanking new, 40-metre long and six-metre wide platform of the Murukumpuzha railway station does not give away what lies beneath it.
Railways constructed the platform on land filled using solid waste collected from the capital and claim to have come up with an effective method to address waste management issues in the State. (The intended length of the platform was 540 metre, but only 40 metre could be completed owing to protest by local people).
Overcoming the apprehension of local people over using solid waste as landfill, the platform II of the Murukumpuzha railway station, near here, which spots interlocking tiles, was thrown open to the public on Thursday by Minister for Urban Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali in the presence of A. Sampath, MP, and V. Sasi, MLA.
Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agrawal said it was the first platform on the railway network in the country where waste was used as sanitary landfill. The Suchitwa Mission supported the endeavour.
“It can be replicated in more stations and we have already identified over 20 railway stations and have given the list to the State,” he said.
The filling of land using garbage was under an agreement between the State and Railways. As per this, the Corporation provided the garbage and earth required. Around 600 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste was used.
The waste was laid over thick polythene sheets and a layer of earth and clay was evenly spread to create a 30-cm thick layer. The spread was compressed using sheep-foot rollers.
Red earth was spread on the top once the requisite height was attained. On the top, interlocking tiles were laid. Describing it as ‘sustainable waste management’ that would be showcased to the entire country, Mr. Agrawal said Railways were ready to develop the remaining 500 metre of the platform if the local people extend support.
“It is a 100 per cent safe method of garbage disposal, eco-friendly and helps save the ecology as hillocks need not be razed for land- filling,” he added.
The Divisional Railway Manager said they were going ahead with the work on the 540-metre long and 5.5-metre wide platform at Kochuveli using the same method. It will be undertaken at Parasala on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border also if the local people extended support, he said.
People should support the initiative so that it could be replicated elsewhere in the State, Mr. Ali said. Additional Divisional Railway Manager V. Rajeevan attended.
Railways could save Rs.10 lakh for the construction on account of it using waste for landfill, sources said.
