Vilappilsala issue: Contempt petition filed

KOCHI: The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation on Friday filed a contempt petition before the Kerala High Court against the Vilappil Panchayat for deliberately violating court orders with regard to the solid waste treatment plant. The Court had earlier directed to provide police protection for running the Vilappilsala treatment plant peacefully without any obstruction by the panchayat and asked to open the lock of the gates of the plant with the assistance of the police so as to allow entry of garbage vehicles into the plant.However, the petitioner submitted that the  panchayat president, Shobhana Kumari, along with the agitators, had organised a protest and blocked the movement of garbage trucks to the plant. “They had taken law into their hands along with others and created a law and order situation at the factory site. Janakeeya Samithi president Burhanudeen and secretary Beneckson committed Civil Contempt under Section 2(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act and should be punished,” the petitioner said. On the basis of the Court order, two loads of municipal solid waste were brought to the plant site for processing and treatment. When the lorries reached near the site, the panchayat and the protestors obstructed and restricted the officials of the Corporation from taking the vehicles forward. The agitators also pelted stones at the vehicles and the police. Finally, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge and tear gas shells were used to scare away the unruly mob, the petition pointed out.  Due to the high-handed action of the panchayat, the Corporation could not implement the order passed by the Court.The Court had earlier passed the order while considering the petition filed by Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Secretary T Bhaskaran seeking police protection for dumping waste in Vilappilsala plant. Meanwhile, the High Court-appointed Advocate Commissioner, along with the Pollution Control Board (PCB), submitted a report on the extent of pollution and the problems faced by the people in Vilappilsala. Considering the situation, the Court ordered to provide necessary police protection to the staff and the vehicles of the Corporation which carry waste to the plant. The State Government also promised that it was ready to provide necessary protection to the Corporation for the smooth functioning of the plant.