In an apparent attempt to placate the visiting team of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the civic authorities of Kochi are planning to conduct a series of cleaning operations in the city.
From sweeping the city streets and removing garbage heaps from roads to making public toilets functional and setting up mobile leachate treatment units at Brahmapuram, the civic authorities are on their toes to present the city clean and tidy in front of the visiting team. A 25-member team from the NGT is expected to arrive in the city for a three-day visit on January 23.
The tribunal had earlier slapped a heavy fine on the civic body for its failure to set up the leachate treatment plant at the solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram.
The NGT had earlier sent an advocate commissioner to the city to get a first-hand report on the state of affairs at the Brahmapuram plant. Any adverse comment or order from the NGT, said V.K. Minimol, chairperson of the Health Standing Committee of the Kochi Corporation, against the Brahmapuram plant might push the waste management system in the city into a crisis. Hence the preparations, she said.
The State government has also called a meeting of the civic representatives and senior officials of the civic body in Thiruvananthapuram on January 16 to discuss the preparations.
Mayor Soumini Jain, Ms. Minimol, LDF leader in the council K. J. Antony and Corporation Secretary A.S. Anuja are expected to attend the meeting.
A meeting of Health officials was held on Monday to streamline the cleaning drive. The public will also be requested to cooperate with the civic authorities to keep the city clean.
Two mobile leachate treatment plants will start functioning at Brahmapuram from January 19. Squads will be deployed on city roads to check wayside dumping of waste. Heavy fine will be slapped on the offenders as a deterrent measure, said Ms. Minimol.
