Kerala - Kochi   

Cooperation of public necessary, says Mayor

KOCHI: Bylaws for solid waste management in Kochi Corporation, which were released on Saturday, would supplement the success of the centralised solid waste treatment plant at Brahmapuram by ensuring the cooperation of the public and institutions in the decentralised collection and segregation of waste, Mayor Mercy Williams said.

The bylaws define the sources of waste generation in the city and ways to effectively control the flow of waste to public places by bringing about a change in the culture of the public as regards waste, she said at a press conference.

It is with this end in mind that the bylaws laid down certain fines and control measures, she said.

“It was, however, not aimed at punishing people but to make them participants in the functioning of the Corporation, thereby creating trust among them in the civic body,” she said.

Awareness and training programmes to educate the public about the bylaws would be organised at the divisional and ward levels, she said. Asked about the challenges posed by plastic waste, Ms. Williams said that a project for plastic recycling was under consideration.

Till then, plastic waste would be collected and stored in bins that the Corporation had withdrawn from service, she said.

As directed, all health circles had submitted suggestions identifying temporary sheds and yards for keeping non-biodegradable but recyclable waste, Mini Antony, Corporation Secretary, said. The next health standing committee meeting would discuss these suggestions, she said.Coordinated efforts of the police, residential associations and health officials would be made to check the practice of depositing sacks containing garbage brought from outside the city to the Corporation limits, Mayor said.Ms. Antony said that the Corporation aims at establishing an institutionalised internal system for segregated waste collection covering lanes and residential areas in all health circles.

Works of various agencies, including residents’ associations and Kudumbasree units would be coordinated for setting up such a system within a year, she said.

As the first phase towards achieving this, 200-odd specially designed vehicles would be handed over to health circles, said.

Ms. Antony said that large dustbins were being removed to discourage the practice of large scale dumping of waste along the wayside.

Similarly, the operation of large dumping yards like the one at Padiyathukulam had also been stopped.

“But at the same time, if smaller dustbins along important roads are not allotted it will affect the cleanliness of the city,” she said.

Asked about overflowing of these dustbins, she said following a meeting with the city police, a schedule has been drawn up with the support of the health circles to carry out night patrols covering the entire city for a month from the date of implementation of the bylaws to detect illegal dumping of waste, Ms. Antony said.

The Corporation would also supply all the schools in the city with white and green baskets for their classrooms and dining rooms respectively for ensuring segregated waste collection.

She also gave a PowerPoint presentation of the bylaws. Deputy Mayor C.K. Mani Sankar, and councillors were present.

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