The standoff at Vilappil has turned out to be quite sensitive as it pits the judiciary against the local people, but offers little relief to a vexed issue of urbanisation.

Despite court orders, local people on Friday prevented the movement of machinery to the locked-out waste plant at Vilappil and declared their second phase of struggle a success.

Local people say they are not bound to shoulder the city’s waste burden. But, the court has been
insisting on action, with police backing.

This growing urban malaise has spawned unrest at many places across the state.

“As long as we don’t resolve this justly, to the satisfaction of victims who suffer, the environmental struggle would spread to other places in the vicinity of cities.

The court should strike a balance since society as a whole is the direct and immediate victim
of urban activities,” said advocate Kalees-waram Raj.

He said that no institution, even the court, could ignore people’s genuine grievances.

Half-a-dozen rules on waste management would not treat Vilappil residents as strangers. Therefore, their sufferings and experiences should make others sit up and take note, he said.

“Even in Chengara land agitation, a Division Bench quoted authorities on civil disobedience while directing eviction of the landless in a phased manner. The court held that the police action should not result in bloodshed,” said Mr Raj.

Former assistant solicitor general T.P.M. Ibrahim Khan opined that the people should obey the court, but the government should find a viable solution to treating solid waste.

“European countries take into account the amount of waste generated before setting up a plant. We should follow suit,” he said, stressing the importance of adhering to the judicial system.

At Vilappil, the high court directive to the Director General of Police was to provide police protection for setting up the new machinery for the leachate treatment plant at the existing treatment site.

Thiruvananthapuram Corporation insisted on transporting the machinery, other equipment and 200 lorry loads of clay to the plant site.

Senior counsel Nandakumar Menon said, the court order should in no way affect the people of Vilappil panchayat.

The court order was to transport machinery to the plant and not transport garbage, he asserted, rubbishing the Vilappil agitation.

“Apprehensions of people are baseless as both Kerala High Court and the Supreme Court had held that only 90 tonne of waste should be treated at the plant, which would not harm the residents,” he said.

The people of Vilappil however thwarted the corporation’s plans by unveiling a fiery agitation.

Though DGP Jacob Punnoose had submitted before the court that the police would give the protection, the police had to beat a hasty retreat in the face of popular resistance.

It’s a test of nerves for government, people

When the Thiruvanantha-puram corporation acquired the land in Nedumkuzhi in Chevollor ward of Vilappil grama panchayat in 1993, little did the innocent residents know that it would be the beginning of their miseries and sufferings.

The corporation’s scheme to convert organic waste into biofertilisers under BOT agreement with a private firm was seen as a solution to the growing waste problem in the capital city.

Though even at that time a section of environmentalists opposed the idea of dumping city waste in suburbs, their protest was feeble.

The operations at the plant began in 2000, so did the miseries of the residents. Soon the people who were living in harmony with the nature till then were exposed to a totally different environment of intense stench.

Acute respiratory problems, huge increase in mosquitoes and flies, contamination of drinking water wells followed in no time. Life became a hell.

The mild flames of protests that started more than a decade ago have now taken the shape of inferno. It is the “do or die battle” of the people under the aegis Vilappilsala Janakeeya Samithi that prevented government’s every move to reopen the controversial plant.

During the past six months HC issued two directives and SC upheld one of its orders. But officials could not move an inch forward due to peoples’ protest.

Having suffered for more than a decade, they are in no mood to give the state another chance. That’s the reason why they are resisting even the transportation of machinery and clay for the leachate plant.

Since the Vilappil panchayat shut the plant in December 2011, authorities have not been able to reach anywhere near the premises.

Janakeeya Vikasana Samithi that rallied the entire panchayat under one banner, is not ready to settle for anything less than the plant’s permanent closure.

Despite the strong stand of the locals, a section of experts feel that Vilappil could still be the best plant in the country. The composting facility can be upgraded by facilitating proper aeration.

But given the opposition of the people, the possibility of reopening the plant seems to be out of question for the moment.

Brahmapuram dump yard awaits hi-tech plant

While local residents and Thiruvananthapuram corporation feud over the Vil-appil garbage plant, Brah-mapuram, where Kochi corporation has a defunct plant, is free of major issues.

Brahmapuram is a different case altogether because of the massive land acquired by the corporation for the project. Civic authorities acquired 102 acres to set up the plant by evacuating all families in the vicinity.

Local residents resent the dumping at the defunct plant site but they do not object to installing a modern plant.

But the festering issue is the pile of municipal solid waste, which has remained unprocessed for nearly a year and a half. The corporation dumps nearly 60 loads of untreated waste at Brahmapuram daily.

“Waste pollutes nearby water sources, including groundwater and Kadam-brayar, a major source of drinking water,” said Mr Abdul Basheer, action council convener.

Suchitwa Mission has proposed a modern centralised solid waste treatment plant there with a 500-tonne capacity.

The Malinya Nikshepa Virudha Samara Samiti has suggested a proper system to monitor the new waste plant. “An expert monitoring panel should be set up with members drawn from Suchitwa Mission and legal experts,” said Mr Basheer.