Garbage trouble seeps into temples in Kollam district

KOLLAM: After human beings, it is the turn of gods to suffer the ill-effects of the garbage treatment plant at Kureepuzha. The wells in three temples, Vattamanacavu Durga temple,Thevarkavu Maha Vishnu temple and Karineezuthcavu Devi temple, have been tainted with leachate from the waste treatment plant at Kureepuzha.
The devotees are now shying away from cleansing themselves with holy water from the temples.They are of the opinion that the water has lost its purity for it is drawn from contaminated wells. Due to the terrible stench, the temple authorities have even revised the schedule of rituals. The priests have cut down the duration of each puja because of the sickening smell. The burning of incense and camphor are not enough to fight the stink from the treatment plant.
All three temples are located close to the garbage treatment plant, while one of them - Vattamanacavu Durga temple – shares a compound wall with the plant. The garbage issue has affected the flow of devotees to the temple and the authorities feel a sharp dip in the revenue. According to Ravikumar, secretary, temple advisory committee, Vattamanacavu Temple, the situation has badly affected the functioning of the temple. “We had forwarded a complaint regarding this to the devaswom commissioner and corporation in the recent past. The commissioner gave a directive to the corporation to take steps to rectify the problem but to no avail,” he said.
Kollam mayor Prassanna Earnest said, “They are not cooperating with us to plaster the compound walls of the garbage plant from preventing seepage from entering the temple premises. We could do something only if the people allow us to act,” she said.