Thiruvananthapuram: The Nedumnagad Tahsildar has submitted a report categorising the Indian Medical Association’s land at Peringammala panchayat, where a bio-waste treatment facility is proposed to come up, as a ‘nilam’, or wetland. The report further says the plant should not be established as it is a swamp rich in biodiversity with freshwater bodies.
Meanwhile, IMA representatives indicated that they might not proceed with the project if there is strong opposition. IMA state secretary Dr Sulphi N. said, “We are not abandoning it. However, people are so anxious. This project is for the people. If it causes problems, we will look at other options.”
Health minister K.K. Shylaja said the government is not bent on making the project ha-ppen at the same site.
The Tahsildar’s report and ground reality contradicts several points in the Environment Impact Assessment report which IMA submitted to the government, according to Pering-ammala gramapanchayat vice-president Kunjumon K.J.
“The IMA report says that there are no endangered species of flora, which is false. It is an elephant habitat, with rare butterfly species and home to a rare swamps ecosystem,” he said. It has Myristica trees and is one of the few such ecosystems in the country according to environmentalists.
The IMA report says that there is no human inhabitation within 1 km radius. “That’s a lie. The Tannimoodu settlement with over 200 people is just 300 m away. The Kalaya-puram and Pampuchathamannu ST Colonies are close by. Adip-parambu and Venkatta SC Colonies are also not too far off,” he said.
The report, prepared by a team from Annamalai University commissioned by IMA, says the project will manage waste from hospitals in five districts.
Statements issued by IMA have always been saying that the plant will deal with waste from just three districts.
