THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Not even the stinking garbage outside could unite a divided house of 100 councillors inside the City Corporation when it took up a discussion on the waste disposal crisis at the Council meeting on Wednesday. While the LDF slammed the UDF Government for the ‘smelly situation’, the UDF members, in turn, attacked the LDF-led Corporation for total inaction during the last five months. The BJP, mocking the two fronts for their stands and inviting them to take a cue from Gujarat and Bangalore (where the BJP rules) in solid waste management, walked out of the Council. At the end of two hours, amidst much din, the UDF members also walked out, while the Mayor returned to her Chamber without officially announcing the adjournment of the meeting. From the very beginning, when Development Standing Committee chairperson Shajitha Nazer introduced the agenda in the Council to approve the final annual plan for 2011-12 which was changed to include 11 government-proposed projects, the discord had begun. The UDF members said that the implementation of many government-aided projects like the BSUP, EMS Housing Scheme and the e-governance projects were kept under wraps without providing any information to the councillors. The animosity grew when Works Standing Committee chairperson V S Padmakumar introduced an official resolution to move court against the government, police and panchayat for not abiding by the Supreme Court order allowing the Corporation to operate the plant. The UDF members said that the Corporation, whose prime duty is to keep the city clean, wanted the government to do the civic body’s work. They said that the Corporation has not been able to implement the ‘disposal of waste at its source’ project or the setting up of bio-waste plants which were announced months ago. Instead of doing things its own way, the Corporation was wasting each day waiting for the government to do something, they alleged. The LDF leaders said that the Corporation cannot move an inch forward with its landfill project since there is no land left for the process in wards. Instead of sensing the gravity of the situation and jointly seeking a solution from the government, the UDF was playing dirty politics, they said. The BJP members, five of whom were present, walked out in protest against the stand of the LDF and UDF members. ‘’Let the Mayor resign for two months and give us a chance, we will show how to solve the issue,’’ said the members before leaving the floor of the Council. ‘’What happened to the BJP’s announcement that it will set up bio-waste plants in the six wards represented by its members?’’ Mayor K Chandrika asked. After much mud-slinging, UDF member Maheswaran Nair said that a special council should be called to discuss the issue, which was rejected by the Chair. The UDF members took to the floor and raised slogans, during which the resolution was approved. This led to another round of pandemonium and the Mayor left the Chair for her chamber, bringing the day’s din to an end.
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