Thiruvananthapuram: Corporation mulls registration for honeysucker trucks

Thiruvananthapuram: As the issue of unauthorised honeysucker trucks dumping sewage waste by city roads has become regular, the city corporation is thinking of starting registration for the trucks. The trucks will be able to then take septic tank waste to the Sewage Treatment Plant at Muttathara.

This will also ensure that the plant is utilised better. At the moment, the capacity of the plant is 107 mld, but it treats only around 40 mld waste.

However the project would need some infrastructural addition at the Muttathara STP. Officials say that the waste which honeysucker trucks carry will be different in composition from the waste flowing through sewage outlets. The trucks usually suck waste from septic tanks, which would be partly treated. This will not be the same as untreated raw sewage waste sent directly through sewage lines.

Designing a treatment unit for the honeysucker truck waste will take some time, they say. As per initial discussions, the cost of this unit will be within Rs 20 lakhs. They say that it will be part of next year’s budget proposal.

The Corporation health officials have seized four vehicles emptying sewage waste on public spaces this month. The dumping spots are usually in areas near Kazhakkoottam bypass, NISH in Akkulam ward, as well as Vizhinjam. Corporation officials have a hard time catching the culprits. They say that even though they are charged a fine as high as Rs 25,000, the offenders are least affected as they charge heavy amounts from the users.