Vilappilsala: CM to convene meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Chief Minister Oommen Chandy informed the House on Monday that he would soon convene a meeting to resolve the solid waste management issue at Vilappilsala.The Chief Minister said that the residents of Vilappilsala had met him and submitted a memorandum detailing their concerns over the waste disposal in the region. They also pointed out the serious health hazards the dumping of waste has been creating in the area."I have already spoken to the Mayor in this regard and has decided to convene a meeting of the Corporation officials and the people’s representative to evolve an action plan for ending the crisis,’’ said Chandy.V Sivankutty from the CPM had raised the issue during the Zero Hour as a supplementary question to the demand made by Therambil Ramakrishnan of the Congress on the need to evolve a uniform statewide scheme for waste disposal.While replying to this, the Chief Minister said the State Government has decided to constitute a permanent committee under the chairmanship of Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, who is also holding the charge of Urban Affairs, to evolve an action plan for a uniform scheme for waste disposal.It was in the last week of December 2010 that the Vilappilsala panchayat council passed a resolution asking the City Corporation to shut down the treatment plant. Though the Corporation held talks with the panchayat once, it ended in failure. In the days that followed, the panchayat showed little enthusiasm in affirming its stand on the issue, which was then taken up by the locals.However, the UDF panchayat  reiterated its anger against the Corporation soon after the UDF Government came to power in the State.The Janakeeya Samithi and the Vilappil Vikasana Samithi took up the strike thereafter. The Janakeeya Samithi leaders and members are on an indefinite strike at Nedunkuzhy, near Vilappilsala, since January which has now crossed 150 days.Janakeeya Samithi leader Burhan said that the memorandum they submitted to the Chief Minister sought a permanent solution to the problems of Vilappilsala, a reprieve from the health hazards faced by the local people and a suggestion to decentralise solid waste management in the city.