THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: S S Kovil Road, which gets water-logged during every monsoon, was where Finance Minister T. M. Thomas Isaac went in order to speak about three-tier kitchen bins. Since excess moisture can affect the performance of kitchen bins, unless properly monitored, follow-up visits are extremely important. “I have told officials to visit the houses in this area frequently, as it is prone to waterlogging. This area should be given special focus,” said Thampanoor councillor M. V. Jayalekshmi.
The minister was accompanied by a group of volunteers and waste management experts carrying kitchen bins and innoculum. They responded to questions from the residents. Sarika V., at the third house the minister visited, asked if they could keep the bin outside. She was told that it was important to keep it in a dry place inside. The residents were advised to strain the water content off ‘sambar’, ‘moru’ and similar dishes with water content, before it is put in the bin.
The houses got a three-tier bin in which three buckets, each attached to a base, was kept one on top of the other. Babitha P. S., a volunteer who had come in support of the campaign, told them that water could be filled in the base, so that there was no ant infestation. “Add two drops of coconut oil, to avoid mosquito breeding in the water,” she said.
Many houses did not have much place to create a compost pit, and almost everyone were dependent on an agency which collects waste, until Friday. 241 members of the Thampanoor Residents’ Welfare Association have agreed to start using kitchen bins, according to TRWA Secretary V Babu. Only less than 3 per cent people expressed their doubts regarding the use of kitchen bins, according to Babu. “They said that there were not too many follow-ups when other waste management systems were introduced. They wondered whether this would turn out to be a similar experience,” he said.
