Sub-committee formed to study proposals

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  The mediation committee of the Kerala High Court appointed to look into the Vilappilsala garbage plant row on Friday formed an 18-member sub-committee to study the proposals made by various stakeholders to end the stalemate. Suchitwa Mission executive director George Chakacherry has been appointed the convener of the committee. The sub-committee has three other representatives of the State Government, four representatives each of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Vilappilsala Action Council and the Vilappil grama panchayat and one each from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (PCB) and the State Health Department. It will have its first meeting at the Secretariat on March 20. The sub-committee’s report will be submitted to the mediation committee on March 23, when the latter resumes the mediation process. The sub-committee has a tough job on hand as the State Government and the Corporation want the plant opened and operated, while the Vilappilsala Action Council and the panchayat are vehemently against it. ‘’Our mandate is to study the suggestions made by the Government, the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the Vilappil panchayat and the Action Council and study whether there is a possibility of a solution. We will be submitting our report on March 23 after the March 20 meeting,’’ Chakacherry said. At the last meeting of the mediation committee, stakeholders were asked to submit suggestions for finding a solution on the vexatious issue.