KOZHIKODE: District administration’s ‘Zero waste Kozhikode’ project is facing resistance from local people over the waste collecting centre coming in their vicinity. Though anger is simmering in many local self government (LSG) institutions, it has come out in the open in Vadakara and Maniyur. In Vadakara, the 13-cent land near the old railway level cross at J.T road was identified for the waste collection but has not started function due to the stiff resistance. The residents of J.T road and adjacent Thazhe Angadi allege that it is adding fuel to the fire as already they are suffering due to the nearby abattoir and drainage water.
“The waste from the 47 wards of Vadakara municipality are being planned to be brought here. There are alternate lands in Puthiyapp and Pakkayil to dump garbage. We are not the waste bin of the municipality,” said Anas K., the leader of the protest samiti. On Tuesday also, the samiti members had altercation with municipality officers over the issue. The officers had to return from the spot due to the opposition. But Vadakara municipality chairman K. Sreedharan said that the issue was no serious matter.
“It will take time to convince them. They have the impression that foul smelling waste is going to be dumped there. It is only non-biodegradable waste such as plastic that would be stored here before sending it for recycling,” he explained. The chairman said that waste collected would be stored at J.T. road itself. At Kunnathukara of Maniyur gram panchayat, the local residents’ protest has entered 10th day.
“Several families are staying nearby to the proposed plant. The waste from four grama panchayats under Thodannur block panchayat is to be brought here,” laments protest samiti leader Sreedharan Kottapally. The samiti will take out a protest rally to Maniyur panchayat office on January 25. At the same time, district collector U.V Jose, who is also the Disaster Management Authority Chairman, has given an ultimatum to all LSGs to start collecting non-bio degradable waste before February 15. “The waste should be collected through Haritha Karmasena under the ‘Zero waste Kozhikode’ project. Action will be initiated against the secretaries of the non-complying LSGs,” he said.
