Septage treatment plant proves waste at Brahmapuram

KOCHI: The septic waste treatment plant set up by the city corporation at Brahmapuram has failed to address the menace of toilet waste dumping in open places. Even after the commissioning of the plant, the operators still dump waste in drains, wetlands and open spaces in remote areas, resulting in serious health hazards. Many high-rises in the city, including residential and commercial buildings,  dispose of toilet waste into public drains and canals. Even busy stretches like Kaloor – Kadavanthra road stink of toilet waste.

Corporation health standing committee chairperson  V.K Minimol told DC that the problem remains unaddressed due to the delay in lining up the lorries for transporting waste to Brahmapuram. “Though the plant is functional, only 11 licensed vehicles are now engaged in waste transporting. An application has been submitted to the RTO for issuing permission for 77 lorries to transport septic waste from city areas to the plant. The approval is expected in a couple of days,” she said.

Once the permission is issued, only those vehicles stuck with special stickers will be allowed operate in the sector. The plant will not be beneficial for the city areas until the vehicles are lined up and the waste removal is streamlined, according to Minimol.

The civic body also plans to hand over the details of the licensed lorries to the police authorities and they will be requested to confiscate all other vehicles engaged in illegal waste dumping. Even the individual house and apartment complex owners should  ensure that the waste collected from their premises is being transported to the treatment plant, she added.