THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Hinting towards a major crisis that could affect the existing solid waste management mechanism in the capital city, the meeting called by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Monday to discuss the issue remained unresolved. The government will hold yet another meeting this week, before September 18, in view of the intense strike called by the Vilappil Janakeeya Samithi from that day. Meanwhile, the government is learnt to have asked the Suchitwa Mission to conduct a study into the possible methods which could solve the problem, at least temporarily in Vilappilsala. Though it is learnt that the government has agreed in principle to the idea of shutting down the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant, it has asked for more time to arrive at a better substitute. However, the striking local people led by the Janakeeya Samithi has refused to give in this time and has asked for a solution before September 18. The City Corporation made it clear that it has initiated steps to introduce decentralised waste treatment in the city and it needs time. ‘’We don’t have a magic wand with us, we need time,’’ Mayor K Chandrika said at the meeting. She said that a project to set up a leachate treatment plant is in progress at Vilappilsala. Flats, hotels and hospitals in the city have been asked to find out garbage disposal methods by themselves to reduce the volume of garbage transported to Vilappilsala. The Refused Derive Fuel (RDF) plant which was envisaged for Vilappilsala has been found not feasible. The Corporation has written to the Centre to give permission to deviate the funds for the RDF plant to be used for the decentralised waste disposal project. Around Rs. 80 lakh has been set aside in the Plan Fund to introduce the decentralised waste mechanism, explained the Mayor. However, the Janakeeya Samithi leaders did not budge and repeated, in the meeting, their demand to shut down the plant. ‘’We cannot give more than one month. The strike has been going on for 11 years now, but the rulers have been avoiding our demand. The damage has been done to the people and ecosystem there, which is why we were forced to resort to the strike. It has passed more than 240 days; no more waiting,’’ Samithi leader Burhan said at the meeting. Urban Affairs Minister P K Kunhalikutty said that the striking leaders had demanded a solution before September 18. ‘’It is not possible. But the government will hold talks again and arrive at a solution,’’ he told reporters. It is learnt that the government is thinking of implementing a solid waste management programme covering the whole state which will be tried out in Vilappilsala too. Sources said that the government has asked for six months’ time to shut down the plant in a time-bound manner. The striking local people have said that they would continue with the blockade till a solution is reached.
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