KOCHI: As a permanent solution to the solid waste disposal evades Kochi, the civic authorities are on an attempt to find temporary solution for the vexing problem.

From taking up the issue of non-issuance of NoC for the Brahmapuram treatment plant with the Chief Minister to meeting the Commander-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command for seeking an extension of time for dumping waste at its site, the new team of civic authorities is making an all out effort to find some stopgap arrangements for clearing the waste.

A high-level Corporation team led by Mayor Mercy Williams will meet the Commander-in-Chief of Southern Naval Command on Tuesday seeking an extension of time for using the naval land for sanitary landfill as the deadline fixed by the Navy expires on November 5.

The Navy had earlier objected to the Corporation dumping waste at the site without properly covering the waste leading to increased presence of birds at the naval airport.

The presence of a large number of birds had worried the Navy, as it feared that bird-hits would damage its aircraft.

It was after an undertaking given by the civic administration that the waste would be properly covered and disinfectants used to prevent bird menace that the naval authorities permitted it to use the site.

The reluctance of the Navy in permitting dumping at its site had worried the Corporation as the civic administrators were left with no other option for dumping the waste.

The Mayor will be accompanied by C.K. Manisankar, Deputy Mayor; N.M. Nahas, Town Planning Officer, and C.G. Elizabeth, Health Officer.

Sitting by Ombudsman

Ms. Williams paid a courtesy visit to Ombudsman for Local Bodies T.K. Chandrasekhara Das on Monday evening.

The Ombudsman is to consider the case pertaining to the setting of a solid waste Treatment plant during the two-day sitting to begin on October 26.

At one of the recent sittings, the Ombudsman had made strictures against the civic administration for not complying with the mandatory measures for starting the treatment plant.

Though the State Government had earlier included the Brahmapuram Solid Waste Treatment plant in fast track projects for speedy implementation, the project is yet to get no-objection certificate from the Government.

"The issue was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister at one of the recent discussions," said Ms. Williams.

"The Corporation plans to formally take up the issue with the Government soon," she said.

"Before meeting the Chief Minister, the Corporation wishes to settle the dispute with some of the landowners at Brahmapuram whose holdings will have to be acquired. For that, we have requested the service of the Collector to act as a mediator between us and the landowners," she said.

Standing committees

The Corporation Council on Monday elected the members of the seven Standing Committees of the Corporation.

The chairpersons will be elected on Thursday.

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