Shobhana Kumari begins indefinite fast in Vilappilsala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The long-drawn out garbage issue after temporary closure of waste treatment plant at Vilappilsala near here last year following protest from locals took a new turn with government installing equipment for a modern leachate plant at the site Saturday, sparking protests from people.

The police moved in the equipment around 2 am, taking the local people by surprise. They tried to resist the police action after daybreak, but in vain. The people later launched a sit-in at the panchayat square. The situation in the area is tense.

Vilappilsala panchayat president Shobhana Kumari began an indefinite fast in protest against the government move, which she said amounted to "cheating" the people.

The Joint Action Council demanding permanent closure of the plant also announced a hartal in the panchayat today.



The locals had also started blocking vehicles on the road to Vilappilsala, police said.

The Kerala High Court had last week directed the government to take swift action to install a modern plant in the wake of petitions regarding amassing of garbage in the capital and the threat of epidemics.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the government had only implemented the High Court verdict to re-start the waste treatment plant at Vilappilsala. The equipment was taken there in the early morning with the help of the police as the authorities wanted to avoid tension, he told reporters here.

Minister for Urban Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali said the plant would re-start functioning with modern amenities, which would be beneficial to the people.

The locals, led by Joint Action Council against the plant, however, are determined to carry on the fight. Sobhana Kumari said she would stage a fast-unto-death if the government did not announce the plant's closure.

The government's recent move to take the garbage to abandoned quarries had also invited protest from residents in different areas.