Kerala - Kochi   

Meet calls for reduction of waste

Staff Reporter

Imposition of law alone will not achieve the end: Paloli

KOCHI: A meeting convened by the Local Self-Government Department here on Saturday on sustainable management of waste called for reduction of waste, its segregation at the source, decentralised disposal using simple technologies and setting up of committees at the ward and district-levels to monitor the progress of these local units.

The meeting, inaugurated by Minister for Local Self-Government Paloli Mohammed Kutty, was attended by Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma; Dinesh Mani, K.V. Thomas and M.M. Monaye, MLAs; Kochi Mayor Mercy Williams; district panchayat president P.S. Shyla; District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish and members of the local bodies in the district, including Corporation councillors, experts in waste management and representatives of residential associations among others.

Mr. Kutty said that people would have to involve themselves in finding a permanent solution to the problem of waste. He said that imposition of law alone could not achieve the end. He said the Government was committed to setting up permanent waste disposal facilities.

Mr. Sarma said that localised waste disposal facilities would be set up with committees monitoring the progress of these facilities. He said that these localised facilities should be set up within a timeframe and that cut off dates should be fixed for their coming into being.

He said that besides Government help, sponsorship would be sought as well as help from the local NGOs, residential associations, community development societies and Kudumbasree units.

Mr. Sarma said the local units and monitoring committees under the councillors should be set up by March 1 and the district-level committees should also be formed.

Mr. Sarma said by the third week of this month, the programme should take a definite shape.

T.K. Jose, Secretary, Local Self-Government, said that a workshop would be organised here in the third week of this month for both west and east Kochi areas to finalise the setting up of decentralised waste management facilities. He said the Local Self-Government Department was ready to make Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) land available for setting up waste management facilities, provided the waste was segregated.

Segregation of waste at source would be implemented and that movement of waste would be done in covered vehicles in keeping with the rules laid down for the transport of waste.

The Mayor said that removal of plastic from the scene would help ease the problem of waste management to a great extent. She also called for reduction of waste and a change in the life style.

Earlier, Mr. Kutty inaugurated three biogas plants in the city.

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