Vilappilsala issue: Corporation furious

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Corporation Council that met here on Thursday expressed its fury over the way the Vilappil panchayat locked the gates of the waste treatment plant owned by the Corporation. Majority of the councillors, including the UDF members, were agitated, saying that the silence of the Corporation was a failure on its part to assert its right. Many councillors also accused the land mafia of playing a role in the agitation in the panchayat. Meanwhile, the Corporation has filed a complaint with the government and the police  against the panchayat’s action and demanding protection to its assets lying locked up in the panchayat.  The emergency council was called to approve the ordinance promulgated by the State Government by amending the Kerala Municipality Rules with regard to waste management and plastic disposal. While the discussions that ensued saw the BJP and at times the UDF slipping into political talk, the LDF members strictly kept away from politics during the discussions, which clearly showed that instructions were passed to them from higher-ups in this regard. Beginning the discussion, UDF leader Maheswaran Nair said that from the way the panchayat and the Janakeeya Samithi behaved in the crucial talks held on Wednesday, it is clear that they enjoy external support. He urged the local body to tackle the issue with the panchayat legally.‘’It is our land, not even the government’s. We should claim our land back, whether or not a plant is run there,’’ Maheswaran Nair said. His sentiments were echoed by many others who followed, including CPM leaders. However, the BJP took a firm stand against the UDF Government, saying the government was not considerate towards the people. Had it been considerate, the government would have suggested an alternative to dispose the garbage the city is creating, BJP leaders M R Gopan and M R Rajiv said.Though the majority of the councillors expressed their earnestness to find a suitable place to set up mini-plants, many of them made it clear that they would not tolerate a centralised system in their area. The Vizhinjam and Harbour councillors, Gladis and Sudeer Khan respectively, took a firm stand that the government’s plan for a centralised plant would not be allowed.