KOZHIKODE: Contaminated water entering the drinking water system through cracks on old pipelines; the need for a clear policy governing quarrying and mining of sand from rivers; a demand for relocating the corporation's solid-waste disposal plant from Njeliyanparamba; and the continuing pollution of wells due to seepage of waste from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital — these were among the issues that came up before the Assembly Committee on Environment which held a sitting at the Collectorate on Thursday.

A strong demand was raised before the panel for a clear-cut region-specific policy regarding quarrying and river-sand mining. There was a demand that local self-governments be authorised to take decisions on such matters. Local bodies also had to be given powers to prevent conversion of paddy fields and mining of sand from hills since the existing laws governing these activities had not been effective.

The Assembly committee was also told that the ban on plastic should be strictly enforced in villages. Rural areas also had to be provided with solid-waste disposal facilities. Attention of the committee was also drawn to the pollution of wells from septic tanks. This problem was acute in villages.

The committee, headed by George J. Mathew, examined in detail the dispute over the waste disposal plant at Njeliyanparamba and the demand for relocating it raised by V.K.C. Mamu Koya, MLA, and representatives of Cheruvannur-Nallalam Panchayat.

Mayor M. Bhaskaran, however, informed the committee members that the corporation council was ready to accept any scientific solution that could solve this sensitive issue.

A Rs. 210-lakh project for development of a solid-waste disposal plant at Njeliyanparamba was already under way. Its roof was being widened. Drinking water was being supplied to houses from where pollution of wells on account of the plant had been reported. A Rs. 66.5-lakh project to set up a green belt and prevent pollution of water sources because of effluents seeping into wells was also being implemented. The corporation was also implementing a project for purification of wastewater. These were expected to be completed by March 31. Steps for acquisition of land at a cost of Rs. 2crores for plant development had also started.

Water contamination

Residents in the neighbourhood of the medical college hospital complained that their wells continued to be contaminated by waste from the hospital, though an incinerator was being operated there by the authorities in a bid to lessen pollution.

Superintendent of the Institute of Maternity and Child Health, attached to the hospital, Mohanan, informed the Assembly committee that a Rs. 8 -crore project for treatment of medical waste in the hospital had been submitted to the Government by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).

Complaints were also made to the panel that drinking water supplied to the city was getting contaminated because of dirty water entering the pipelines through cracks. Old pipelines had to be immediately replaced since contamination of drinking water could lead to outbreak of deadly diseases.

Representatives from panchayats told the Assembly panel that it was largely through people's initiatives that forests were protected from poachers. In Kavilumpara, attempts were being made to grab forestland with the help of forged documents.

Protection of trees in forests would be more effective if panchayats were given powers to check felling of trees.

Koilandi municipality has been sanctioned Rs. 28.25 lakhs under the Clean Kerala Mission. The Vadakara municipality has submitted a proposal for Rs. 95 lakhs. The mission has recommended Rs. 24.22 lakhs to the municipality. Among the 78 panchayats in Kozhikode, projects for solid waste disposal plants had been received from only Nadapuram and Chelannur panchayats, Mission Director A. Salim informed the committee.

The committee members Manjalamkuzhy Ali, V.J. Paulose and Raju Abraham attended the sitting.

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