Civic body seeks Technopark support to set up aerobic bins

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The city corporation has sought the help of CEOs of Technopark companies as well as hotels and restaurants along the Kazhakkoottam-Kovalam stretch of national highway to sponsor aerobic compost units to get rid of wayside garbage as part of its cleanliness drive ‘Ente Nagaram, Sundara Nagaram’ (My City, Beautiful City).
"Corporation representatives and former finance minister Thomas Isaac have vouched for the effectiveness of these bins.Isaac said various agencies which monitored the progress of the project implemented in Alappuzha for the past two years had found it as a sustainable model," said group of technology companies (GTech) joint secretary Binu Jacob.
The civic body also plans to rope in Kudumbashree workers to collect wet garbage from homes and hotels in the area. Corporation authorities, including mayor K Chandrika and health standing committee chairperson S Pushpalatha, were part of the meeting held at Technopark last week. They informed GTech that it would cost Rs 12 lakh for 30 aerobic bins. They also urged them to actively consider one-time commitment along with providing technical help. The corporation also plans to seek the help of artists to beautify the Kovalam- Kazhakkoottam stretch where the bins will be placed.
The GTech secretary Anoop P Ambika said GTech members have pledged their support for the campaign and have sought a master plan from the corporation. "We are in agreement about this decentralized mode of garbage disposal. The Vilappilsala model may be hard to replicate. We will also provide proactive support to help generate social and visual media content and volunteers for the programme. The corporation now has to identify areas to place the bins, the number of units required, etc.," Anoop said.
Mayor K Chandrika said the corporation was in the process of preparing the master plan. "It would require permission from agencies like NHAI. As of now we are focused on making at least three city wards garbage free. Fixing the garbage problem on the Kazhakkoottam-Kovalam stretch will be taken up only after the projects in these wards," she said.