Kochi: Even though the city ranked fourth in the country’s cleanliness index by the Union ministry of urban development, parts of the city still stink of toilet waste.
One of the busy junctions, Kaloor, and parts of the Kaloor–Kathrikadavu Road are problem areas where the stink is severe, and the stench becomes unbearable in the morning.
There have been complaints that commercial firms including hotels and restaurants pump toilet waste into drains.
“During the previous council’s term, there were complaints about severe stink in Kaloor and it was found that a multi-storeyed apartment complex’s septic tank directly opens to drains. The issue will be brought to the attention of the health committee,” said former mayor Tony Chammany, whose house is in the locality.
Though the civic body’s septage plant at Brahmapuram has become operational, waste removal from the city is yet to get regularised.
Some 170 tanker lorries engaged in septic waste removal have to sign an agreement with the civic body that is yet to draft the agreement and its terms and conditions.
The next council meeting is expected to approve the norms only after which a proper system for waste removal can be implemented.
Meanwhile, the corporation's health standing committee chairperson V.K. Minimol told DC that they would soon address the issue.
“There are chances of commercial establishments misusing the drains by dumping untreated sewage including septic tank waste into it. The health inspector in charge of the area will be asked to look into it,” she said.
Palluruthy division councillor Thampi Subrahmaniam said dumping toilet waste dumping in open places and water bodies still continue in western parts as a transporting system is yet to be in place.
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