Local bodies miss deadline for scientific waste management
The Hindu
Deputy Director to turn up the heat on panchayat secretaries
Twenty-seven local bodies in Ernakulam have not yet achieved 50% coverage in the collection of waste from households, as per the estimates by the Department of Local Self Government.
The latest evaluation of the waste management scenario was carried out by the department in the first week of September. The grama panchayats figuring in the list include Ezhikkara, Karumaloor, Manjapra, Sreemoolanagaram, Asamanoor, Rayamangalam, Vengoor, Mulavukad, Njarakkal, Vadavucode-Puthencruz, Pindimana, Kottapady, Kavalangad, Kuttampuzha, Elanji, Avoli, Arakkuzha, Payipra, Valakom, Marady, Edavanakkad, and Kottuvally. The municipalities that have not yet achieved 50% coverage are Koothattukulam, Thripunitura, Thrikkakra, and Maradu.
The secretaries of these local bodies were asked to step up waste collection from the doorstep to 50% by August. However, the civic bodies did not initiate measures mostly citing the pandemic as a reason for the delay. But the department has now made it clear that the implementation of the project cannot be stretched further as other grama panchayats and municipalities had made progress compared to its situation in June-July.