District-level panel formed to monitor biomining of dumpsites
Stakeholders’ meet held at Wadakkancherry
Thrissur / May 15, 2024
Thrissur, May 15: A district-level monitoring committee has been formed to keep a close tab on the bio-remediation projects being implemented by the Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP) at Wadakkancherry, Kunnamkulam and Chalakkudy municipalities.
The District Panchayat Executive Engineer LSGD will lead the committee, which has as its members the Environment Engineer, Pollution Control Board (PCB), Thrissur; Deputy District Coordinator, Environment Engineer and the Social and Communication member of KSWMP and Suchitwa Mission District Coordinator.
Meanwhile, stakeholder consultation meetings were held at Wadakkancherry Municipality to brief the elected representatives and the local community on the salient features of the bio-remediation project to retrieve the legacy dumpsite at Kumbalangad, by strictly adhering to all socio-economic and environmental safeguards.
The legacy garbage dumpsite at Kumbalangad is one of the spots selected for bio-remediation as part of the ambitious project being implemented by the World Bank-aided Kerala Solid Waste Management Project (KSWMP) to regain the garbage dump sites in over 20 towns across Kerala.
The meeting to brief the Municipal councillors and the municipal employees on the project was held at the Municipal Council Hall. This was followed by another meeting attended by local community members, and Haritha Karma Sena members at the waste management plant at the Kumbalangad dumpsite.
Shri P N Surendran, Wadakancherry Municipal Chairman, addressed the meetings.
The officials briefed the attendees in detail on the socio-economic and environmental advantages of the scheme, including the proposal to turn the site into a space that serves the public interest in a better way.
Elected representatives, officials and experts of KSWMP responded to queries from the local community regarding even the minutest details of the project and about the transparency and inclusiveness guaranteed in its implementation.
The biomining work at Kumbalangad will be carried out by Nagpur-based M/s, SMS Pvt. Ltd., whose officials were also present at the meeting.
It was also decided to form a committee to promptly address the concerns of the local community regarding the project at various stages of its implementation. A WhatsApp group that includes the ward member and representatives of the community has also been formed for seamless communication.
Besides turning urban landscapes into more hygienic and clean spaces, the bio-remediation projects are aimed at utilising the retrieved land for public purposes that substantially benefit the local community.
Citizens can report any waste management complaints or avail waste management services by calling the KSWMP Grievance Redressal Toll Free no 1800-425-0238 or by sending an email to grmkswmp@gmail.com . They can also download the KSWMP Citizen App from Google Playstore.
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