The city Corporation has termed the High Court directive to constitute an expert committee to study the functioning of the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant and the environmental and health implications a “positive development”.
Talking to The Hindu , Mayor K. Chandrika said the representative of the civic body would insist on “terms of reference” to be identified that would highlight the effectiveness of the Vilappilsala plant.
“The main argument put forth by the Janakeeya Samara Samithi is that there would still be pollution even after the leachate treatment plant becomes fully functional and hence it should be closed. We are saying that it can be changed and the ill-effects can be completely done away with if we are permitted to put all the machinery in place,” said Ms. Chandrika. Drawing from her experience in New Delhi a month ago when she visited waste treatment plants there, she stressed that the other cities were badly off and the situation here was relatively better. “The expert committee should conduct a comparative analysis,” she added.
Regarding the temporary waste management measures followed by the civic body, she said an all-party meeting would be held in the Corporation office on Tuesday to address key issues. “We have already formed Samrakshana Samithis in every ward, with the participation of residents’ associations, Kudumbasree workers and other youth and social groups. At the meeting, we will finalise on the specific activities of these groups,” said the Mayor. Works standing committee chairperson V.S. Padmakumar added that the meeting would also discuss about the campaign that aims to create a plastic-free capital city.
Considering that the menace also hampers the decomposition of organic waste, the Corporation plans to rope in youth and student wings of political parties to, by January 1, 2013 to establish an anti-plastic regime. “We will also hold meetings with district committees of parties,” said Mr. Padmakumar. Many wards have plans to follow a decentralised waste management system by setting up bio-gas plants at all government schools and hospitals.
