IMA waste plant faces resistance

PALAKKAD: The IMA plant in Palakakd set up for scientifically processing hospital waste from across the hospitals in the state is facing stiff opposition from the farmers and environmental activist here.

The plant named IMAGE processes waste from over 6,000 private and 130 government hospitals.

The late Dr P.S. Panicker, environmental activist, was in the forefront of the protest by farmers in the region against the plant earlier.

"In 2013, the State Human Rights Commission had issued an order for compensation to the farmers on the complaint filed by them citing that during rainy season waste water from the plant at Kava near the catchment area of Malampuzha dam was flowing through their fields and farms to the dam.  The SHRC had then issued compensation for paddy, rubber and coconut farmers," environmental activist Boba Mattumantha,  a functionary of Paristhiti Aikya Vedi in Palakkad, said.  

In 2016, Malampuzha MLA V.S. Achuthanadan had sent a letter to the state health minister regarding the alleged pollution caused by the plant, he noted.

"VS had also visited the plant operated by a private agency G. J. Multiclave India Private Limited last year. The plant charges Rs 13 per bed, out of which Rs 5 goes to the contracting company that operates the plant. " Mr Boban said.
However, Palakkad DMO K.P. Reetha said that she had not received any complaints regarding the plant recently.

"The main issue raised by the public is over bringing in hospital waste from across Kerala to the plant.  A team of officials from the DMO office in Palakkad had visited the plant a year ago and was satisfied with the functioning of the plant," she said.