Kochi corporation to cancel new waste removal deal

KOCHI: Following widespread complaints on the slowdown in waste removal, the city corporation has decided to cancel the new norms and agreement signed with two contractors for waste transportation. During a special session of the council convened on Tuesday to discuss water- logging, the councillors from both the ruling bench and opposition raised serious concerns over the lapses in waste removal. In an effort to make the garbage removal more effective, the civic body had introduced a couple of new norms for waste transportation in April. But the rules were found to be ineffective and garbage heaps have  resurfaced  in many parts of the city in the last couple of weeks.

"In heavy rain and flooding, rotten garbage heaps started flowing on  the roads and streets. The civic administration totally failed in resolving the issue which poses serious health hazards. The city witnessed unprecedented flooding in the first spell of monsoon due to serious lapses in pre-monsoon cleaning and waste removal," said  Syamala S. Prabhu, BJP councillor. While the opposition sought the resignation of Mayor Soumini Jain for administrative failure, Ms. Jain said that the  main reason for flooding was  the non-cooperation of various stakeholder agencies.

However, Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod admitted that there were  lapses in waste transportation as there were  not enough number of trucks. Opposition member V.P. Chandran alleged that the civic administration had spent Rs.120 crore in the last five years to improve the drainage system but it was of no use. Meanwhile, education standing committee chairperson Poornima Narayan pointed out that funds spent for cleaning small drains in each division had  proved to be futile as the big canals have not been cleaned. "When the clogged canals overflow during rain,  the weeds and waste again reach the cleaned drains. Flooding can't be resolved unless big canals like TP canal is de-silted," she said. Based on the widespread protests and suggestions of the council members, the mayor said that the corporation will cancel the waste removal agreement and  step up measures to clear flooding.