Short-listed agencies asked to hold demo

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation has invited the five agencies who were short-listed for implementation of the decentralised solid waste management programme to conduct a demonstration of their operational mode on Saturday at the Council lounge.The Corporation also plans to conduct an awareness programme for councillors on Monday to enable them to grasp the various steps involved in the decentralised waste management programme and how to take them to their respective wards to create beneficiaries.The Corporation had short-listed the Socio Economic Unit Foundation, Alappuzha; Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Palakkad; Society for Renewal Energy Technology (SRETECH), Manacaud; Regional Agro-Industrial Co-operative of Kerala (RAIDCO); and Social and Environmental Society (SENS), Karamana for the implementation of the ambitious project. In the first phase, the Corporation intends to set up 2,000 biogas plants, 1,100 ring-compost plants and 650 vermicompost plants.According to the Corporation officials, once the demonstration is over, the Health team would be able to assess the best methods for the wards, considering their geographical layout. The officials want to have a first-hand information on the various options so that it could be conveyed to councillors and thereby to the public. The Corporation is planning a campaign to take the options to the public.Many councillors have expressed desire to shift to any mode of decentralised waste management by finding a suitable place in their respective wards. However, many are still not aware of the technicalities involved in setting up biogas or vermicompost plants. The cost, the subsidies to be offered to the public, the place of setting up and other details would be imparted to the councillors at the meeting to be held on Monday.It is at the meeting called by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in September that the deadline for arriving at an alternative waste management system was set as December 20.Meanwhile, the Janakeeya Samithi has expressed resentment at the way the government order dated October 14 has been issued regarding the meetings held on September 12 and 20. The real decision taken in the meeting has not been mentioned in the order, leaders of the Samithi said in a press statement here.It said that at the meeting, it was decided to shut down the plant and a period of three months was granted to arrive at alternative solutions. However, the government order is silent on this and also lists measures (that negate the closure of the plant) to be adopted soon. This is humiliating, the press statement said. It added that the government order should be withdrawn and a fresh order carrying all details be issued.