Corporation adamant on waste treatment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The flats in the city are up in arms against the City Corporation’s ultimatum asking them to find their own means of solid waste management mechanism from this month. Flats are not commercial establishments, but a group of individual residents thrown together, they reason.  The city has nearly 180 flats, from the oldest one in Kowdiar- Saraswati Nilayam -to the latest sprouting at every nook and corner these days. The City Corporation had issued them notice, asking them to find their own  treatment facility from September 1. Not just flats, but hotels, hospitals, wedding auditoriums and commercial establishments have also been asked to do the same by the Corporation.  ‘’We are not in an apartment because we love to. Considering the land prices and the cost of building a house, it is better to own an apartment. Many are here out of sheer helplessness. If the Kudumbashree women can collect garbage from residential colonies, why not from us? We are also residents in the city,” says Vinod C S, president of the Apartment Owners’ Association of Kerala.  However, the Corporation is of the opinion that flats are in the same line as any commercial building. The volume of garbage generated is equal to that of a wedding auditorium or hotel. ‘’We are trying to reduce garbage transportation to Vilappilsala. That is why we have asked them to set up treatment plants. Until and unless a deadline is given to them, they would not think in that direction,” says S Pushpalatha, Health Standing Committee Chairperson. However, she added that the Kudumbashree women have not stopped collecting garbage from flats or hotels. ‘’We cannot stop overnight without these buildings coming up with an alternative means for waste disposal. After Onam, we plan to call another meeting to discuss the issue, after which we would issue a final ultimatum,” Pushpalatha said.  The Apartment Owners’ Association of Kerala has submitted a memorandum to the Corporation officials, including the Mayor and Secretary.  ‘’It is okay if new flats are ordered to come up with waste treatment plants. But for the existing ones to find a new system is not that easy,” Vinod says. The Corporation, however, appears firm in its decision. After a short reprieve got due to Onam, the issue would be hotting up once again.