The move by various local bodies to set up their own material recovery facilities (MRF) for treatment of plastic and non-degradable waste with the support of the Kerala Suchitwa Mission under the Zero Waste project has drawn flak from local residents. Those living near the project sites believe that the proposed facility will contaminate their living environment and slowly convert the area into a “decentralised dumping yard”.
An action committee of residents is up in arms at Parappara near Annassery, where the Chelannur block panchayat plans to set up an MRF. The committee alleged that the panchayat authorities had decided to go ahead with the project, located close to a Harijan settlement, without consulting residents.
'No hazardous pollution'
Though public protests stopped the panchayat from setting up the facility, the authorities ruled out any hazardous pollution threat as feared by people. They claimed that the recovery unit, which was expected to cost ₹20 crore, would handle only shredding, bailing, and disposal, and that it would support as many as seven grama panchayats.
The authorities also affirmed that they would go ahead with the project only after convincing the public of its operational method. They argued that only a few individuals had raised objection out of misunderstanding.
The Suchitwa Mission authorities also confirmed that they would support all awareness programmes to get the project executed within two months.
For now, 12 block panchayats and 48 grama panchayats are supposed to set up MRFs in the first phase under the Zero Waste project. Majority of block and grama panchayats have identified spots that are away from residential areas to avert public protests. Though grama panchayats will be setting up mini MRFs that will function only as plastic waste collection centres, some local action councils believe it will gradually emerge as a dumping spot with poor attention.
Meanwhile, the Suchitwa Mission authorities said MRFs, which would be operated with the support of Haritha Sena workers, was a pioneering initiative in solid waste treatment. The public will directly benefit from the scheme, and they will realise it once the units become active, they added.
Ramanattukara and Mukkom municipalities are yet to identify convenient spots to set up a super MRF. The municipalities have been asked to submit a project report to the government after finalising suitable spots by October 23.