'People's support lacking in garbage plant working'

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNE 4. The residents associations in the city have failed to lend support to ensure smooth functioning of the Vilappilsala garbage treatment plant, the former Mayor, Mr. V. Sivankutty, has said.

Addressing a workshop on "Waste management in Kerala" organised by the British Library and the Indian Society of Inter- disciplinary Studies (ISIS) here today, Mr. Sivankutty said that a permanent solution to the garbage menace could be evolved only by creating awareness, formation of street committees, involvement of voluntary organisations and privatisation.

Dr. P.S. Chandramohan, presided over the valedictory discussions.

According to a paper presented by the ISIS secretary, Dr. S. Sivakumar, the technology used at the Vilappilsala garbage treatment plant was the most appropriate for non-segregated garbage as it was cost-effective and practically adaptable.

The end product, the organic manure, was equally useful for agriculture and horticulture crops.

The background paper said that garbage treatment with specially developed biological inoculums upgrades the garbage hygienically providing better working conditions to the workers.

Indian garbage is highly heterogeneous in composition, texture, physical and chemical properties. Hence, proper separation of organic matter from fresh garbage is difficult. Those projects which have pelletisation and power generation projects are attempting to separate the organic matter from fresh garbage, the paper said.

In Excel's process, fresh garbage is treated with an effective biological inoculum which helps decomposition of all organic matter. The refuse rejected in the process is free from dirt, odour and harmful pathogens and hence can be safely used for open land filling without creating any health hazard.

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Section  : Southern States
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