Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Zero-waste status for Kovalam still a dream

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism’s ambitious project to make Kovalam the first ‘zero-waste destination’ of Asia has received a setback with garbage disposal turning out to be a vexed issue at the famed beach resort.

The project, envisaged with the vision ‘Wealth from Waste,’ was aimed at making Kovalam a zero-waste destination by 2007. It was initially funded by the Kerala Tourism.

The project could not move ahead as segregation of waste was affected following reported laxity on part of the authorities in finding a suitable place for the process.

Thanal, a city-based NGO, that opposed the setting up of an incinerator for garbage disposal had initially spearheaded the project.

Ecopreserve, another NGO, took up the disposal of garbage two-and-a-half years ago when the responsibility was entrusted with the Vizhinjam panchayat.

The crisis started when Ecopreserve had to vacate the building on Harbour road which was used to segregate waste collected by its 40 volunteers.

Attempts to move the waste to the 50 cents of land owned by the Kerala Tourism Department at Mayakunnu behind the Light House beach was opposed by a section of hoteliers and locals.

Non-biodegradable waste was not being removed from the 100-odd hotels and restaurants since January 1, 2008 as a place for storing and segregating the waste could not be identified, sources said. Since the tourist season is at its peak, hoteliers and other stake-holders are worried over garbage accumulating in the area. The issue had also led to acrimonious remarks in the Panchayat and destination-level committee meetings. Destination-level committees were set up to implement ‘responsible tourism’ initiatives.

Grove beach, Mulloor and Chitranjali complex were identified for setting up a yard but no decision has been taken yet.

“Bio-degradable waste generated at the tourist centre comes to four tonnes everyday during the peak tourist season. Over 100 sacks of non-biodegradable waste are also generated. The infrastructure promised has not been made available. The support of local bodies and hoteliers is essential to take the project ahead,” says Vijayachandran of Ecopreserve.

It was in 2002 that the hotels in and around Kovalam started segregating waste into bio-degradable, non bio-degradable and toxic as part of a project chalked out by Thanal and Greenpeace with help of the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA).

Thanal had set up a resource recovery facility at the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology as part of the project. Biogas plants were set up at Kerala Tourism Development Corporation’s (KTDC) Hotel Samudra and on eight cents of land purchased by KHRA. The plants are defunct now. Another biogas plant planned at Avaduthura temple, Njarakkulam, did not take off.

The Tourism Department has spent Rs.25 lakh on the project so far. Thanal and Greenpeace have spent another Rs.34 lakh.

Sources in the tourism industry said failure to segregate the waste at collection centres, changes in the design of the project and lack of consultation with the stake-holders had led to the crisis.

“There are problems in all projects. The Tourism Department and the local bodies did not take steps to involve the community in this project. If concerted efforts are made, the goal can be achieved in three years,” said C. Jayakumar of Thanal.

KHRA Kovalam unit president N. Sudhakaran said the plot owned by Kerala Tourism is ideal for segregating the waste.

“The plot should be fenced and awareness programmes should be launched for taking into confidence the locals residing near it,” he said.

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