Kerala - Kochi   

Resolve to block garbage dumping

Special Correspondent

KOCHI: The High Court order on Monday allowing the Kochi Corporation to dump garbage on the Corporation-owned land at Brahmapuram until a permanent waste disposal plant became functional has hardened Brahmapuram residents' resolve to resist garbage dumping.

The locals allege that the Corporation authorities had misled the court and created an impression that the residents were totally against the plant.

"We are not against the garbage treatment plant, but we are against dumping of waste without taking the precautions prescribed in the Central Government's Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling Rules) of 2000," a local activist told The Hindu

The locals who have already dug a trench to block trucks carrying garbage to the site and arranged night patrol, have now decided to raise a `human wall' if the Government "forced the garbage on us under the pretext of the court order," the activist said.

M.M. Monayee, Kunnathunadu MLA, who is in the forefront of the Brahmapuram agitation, said the people were neither against the court nor did they disrespect its directive. But they felt let down by the directive and blamed the Corporation authorities who had allegedly misled the court.

He said the Brahmapuram people opposed dumping of waste on the proposed treatment plant site as it would cause environmental damage and spoil the waters of Kadamprayar and Chithrappuzha streams.

He pointed out that the 33-acre site was along these streams, which were a main source of water of the area. The streams also supplied water to Infopark, he said.

Most of the site was waterlogged and hence the tonnes of garbage dumped on it would leak into the streams. Moreover, the Central rules do not permit dumping of garbage into the water, he said. Again, once the site was used for dumping, it would be hard for the treatment plant to come up there, he said.

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