THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation has short-listed five government accredited agencies to implement the decentralised solid waste management system in the capital city. The monitoring committee of the Corporation looking into the waste management issue which met here on Wednesday short-listed the agencies, clearing the ground for the kick-off of the decentralised programme by the first week of November. The Socio Economic Unit Foundation, Alappuzha, Integrated Rural Technology Centre, Palakkad, Society for Renewal Energy Technology (SRETECH) Manacaud, Regional Agro-Industrial Co-operative of Kerala (RAIDCO) and Social and Environmental Society (SENS) Karamana are the agencies which have been picked for the programme. According to Deputy Mayor G Happykumar, a single agency would not be able to cover 100 wards, the reason why all agencies which submitted detailed proposals in tune with the specifications issued by the State Government were selected. Though some 20-plus agencies had attended the initial meeting called by the Corporation, very few had submitted detailed proposals by October 15. ‘’The agencies have been asked to demonstrate their working pattern on October 22. After which, steps to take it down to the ward-levels will begin,’’ said Health Officer Sreekumar. Happykumar said that the monitoring committee has discussed in detail as to how to carry out the campaign at the ward-level so that beneficiaries would come forward to try it in their households. The Corporation intends to set up 2,000 biowaste plants, 650 vermicompost plants and 1,100 ring-compost plants by December 20, the deadline set by the government during its talks with the striking local people in Vilappilsala. “The agencies have submitted their numbers; how much they could take up in the specific time period. We have divided it among the agencies. The campaign has to be vigorously carried out to ensure that people respond,” Happykumar said. The ward-level sanitation committees would meet soon to discuss the programme, followed by a meeting of the political parties. This would be followed by a discussion with residents’ associations, after which a detailed campaign would be drawn out. Eminent faces would be invited to lead the campaign as part of ensuring its reach. A newsletter to take the message to ward-level would also be launched. If all goes well, the first steps to a decentralised waste management system would be in place by November, officials said.
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