THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Exactly a year after it first stirred up the Vilappilsala issue, the Vilappil panchayat committee that met here on Monday afternoon decided to shut down the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant, terming it as a decision in favour of protecting the life and health of the people in the panchayat. The meeting, that went on till 6 pm, was attended by all the 20 members of the committee. While the 10 members belonging to the UDF, four members of the BJP and one member of the CPI approved the resolution moved in this regard, the five CPM members expressed their disagreement. ‘’We have waited for one long year. In December last year, the committee had issued a resolution in favour of the closure of the plant, but the state government and the CPM-led Corporation asked us time to find out alternative ways. But nothing has been done to alleviate the concerns of our people. It is in this context that we have decided to shut down the plant. This is also to express our solidarity with the striking Vilappil Janakeeya Samithi, which is planning to block the garbage vehicles to the plant,’’ said S Shobhana Kumari, Vilappil grama panchayat president. According to the panchayat president, the notice of the shut down of the plant would be communicated to the State Government and City Corporation on Tuesday itself. Though there wouldn’t be a sudden action on Tuesday, the panchayat committee members will join the striking locals from Wednesday. The committee has also decided to approach the police to seek protection for the Janakeeya Samithi leaders. Interestingly, the Corporation also has sought protection for its employees transporting garbage. The move by the panchayat committee might derail the political consensus in the City Corporation over the issue. For the last two days, it was an all-party delegation that has been meeting the higher-ups in the Government in this regard. With the UDF, BJP and CPI teaming up in Vilappil panchayat, their counterparts in the Corporation might be forced to review their stands. The district leaders would also be caught in a dilemma if the issue snowballs into a major crisis in the coming days. It was in December last year that for the first and last time the Corporation and the Vilappil panchayat officials had held talks on the issue. The talks were inconclusive, with the Corporation seeking time for setting up mini plants in the city. The panchayat officials say that the way the Corporation has been operating its plant in the panchayat without a licence for the past 11 years is in itself against the rules.
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