The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Steps taken for garbage dumping at GIDA land

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Thursday, Jul 19, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Steps taken for garbage dumping at GIDA land

Staff Reporter

Collector says garbage removal will be completed in a day

Photo: Vipinchandran

Temporary relief: Lorries loaded with garbage waiting at the opening of the road leading to the site identified for temporary dumping of waste in the city on Wednesday.

KOCHI: The norms of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) as well as the solid waste management rules will be observed while dumping waste on the land owned by the Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA), District Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish has said.

The High Court had directed the district administration to dump the waste at the site for two days till Friday when the matter would be considered again.

He said that digging of pit on the land for waste dumping was completely avoided. Sheet capable of preventing waste seepage and polluted water into earth would be laid on the surface of the land. Lime, bleaching power, pesticide and anti-microbial deodorant would be sprayed on the sheet above which the waste would be put at 50 cm thickness. This bed will be covered with 10 cm of red soil, he said.

It would present a bed comprising of chambers filled with waste, which would be covered on all four sides by the sheet laid underneath, he said.

Lorries loaded with garbage made a long line at the opening of the road leading to the proposed site, as efforts continued to make the road motorable.

Besides, metal had to be spread on the reclaimed land before dumping the waste, as it was marshy, the Collector said.

The Collector said that removal of garbage out of the transit depot at Padiyathukulam to the proposed site could be completed in a day, as the distance between the two sites was less. The Collector held talks with members of the Church and a convent, located near the plot, who promised to cooperate.

As the focus would be on dumping the waste already stored at the transit depot, garbage collection in the next couple of days would be tardy.

The Collector also made it clear that the district administration would again approach the High Court for approval of the site at Vennala.

The proposal was shot down by the High Court after the Advocate Commissioners appointed by it submitted an unfavourable report after inspecting the site. The Collector said that construction work of the proposed Brahmapuram treatment plant would begin on Thursday. In an effort to ensure proper waste treatment, the Collector along with Corporation officials held talks with the representatives of the Hotels and Restaurants Association.

The hoteliers agreed to contribute 50 per cent of the cost for setting up five biogas plants for treating waste, while the corporation would provide the land and remaining 50 per cent of the cost. The hoteliers were also asked to make arrangements for segregating biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste generated by their firms, failing which severe action, including closure of the hotels at fault, would be taken. These measures would help to cut down at least 40 tonnes of waste a day, the Collector said.

Similarly, the hospitals in the city had also been asked to take necessary measures to manage the biomedical waste. Criminal action would be taken against those hospitals found carelessly dumping such waste on roads, Mr. Hanish said.

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