Thiruvananthapuram: CPM leaders go soft on waste plant

Thiruvananthapuram: CPM leaders of Pering-ammala are afraid of speaking against the proposed centralised waste management plant.

It may be noted that this is the grama panchayat from which residents in large numbers had taken out a three-day march to the  Assembly complex. According to a survey carried out in Peringa-mmala, more than 6000 people have already said that they don’t want a centralised plant. But the resolution passed by the grama panchayat in connection with the plant does not reflect people’s sentiments. Instead it asks for an awareness programme to allay people’s anxieties.

Grama panchayat president Chitrakumari P, when asked about the plant, told DC that they met agriculture minister V.S. Sunilkumar and LSGD minister A.C. Moideen to submit a letter requesting for this awareness drive. DC asked her if they were not going against the plant, unlike the others. “How can we oppose it with a CPM government ruling the state?” she said. She later changed her response and said, “The grama panchayat is yet to receive any official letter regarding the plant being set up. We will decide whether to oppose or not based on this,” she said.

When asked if they were not opposing the plant, CPM member Muhammed Siyad M.S. of Njaraneeli ward said, “There is no guarantee that the plant will come, as the government will proceed only after an Environment Impact Assessment. But if you individually ask, no one would support the plant.”

Njaraneeli ward lies right next to Kochuvila ward which has the proposed plant site. Kochuvila ward member Sajeena Yahiya, who represents IUML, says, “Though we tried to move a resolution against the plant, the CPM leaders have opposed it. They say that they have not been informed about the plant, even as newspapers have reported the cabinet decision regarding 15 acres in District Agricultural Farm set aside for the plant.”

This week in the Legislative Assembly, when CPM MLA D.K. Murali presented a submission notice, he too had only demanded an awareness drive among the people. The people however have been strongly opposing the plant. UDF MLA K.S. Sabarinadhan’s submission was more strongly worded, as it stressed upon the need to protect an ecologically sensitive area. “We are not against the Waste-to-Energy pant, but the site chosen for it. Even as they claim that the plant will cause no issues, there is no guarantee. This is a unique ecosystem offering living space for various birds and wildlife. They have to look at another suitable place,” he said. In response LSGD minister A.C. Moideen had said that the plant will be set up only after the mandatory Environment Impact Assessment.