17 local bodies get 4.5 acres of govt. land for setting up waste management facilities

The Ernakulam district administration has allotted a total of 4.5 acres of revenue puramboke (government) land to 17 local bodies as part of efforts by the government to encourage three-tier bodies to enhance their infrastructure for scientific waste management and overcome the challenge of scarcity of land for such initiatives.

As part of the initiative, local bodies can set up waste treatment facilities on revenue land. They can also use it to install sewage treatment plants, bio-gas plants, material collection facilities (MCFs), and resource recovery facilities (RRFs).

The local bodies that received revenue land include Varapetti (67.9 cents for RRF), Karukutty (29.16 cents for MCF), Vengola (19.2 cents for MCF), Karumaloor (75.36 cents for MCF), Mulavukad (48.6 cents for MCF), Thrikkakara municipality (68.9 cents for MCF and bio-waste plant), Palakkuzha (6.4 cents for MCF), Valakam (24.6 cents for MCF), Kadungalloor (96.9 cents for MCF), Koovapadi (48.5 cents for MCF), Maneed (48.8 cents for MCF), Puthrika (13.8 cents for MCF), Parakkadavu (23.2 cents for MCF), Aikkaranadu (14.5 cents for MCF), Chittatukara (7.6 cents for MCF), according to official sources.

District Collector N.S.K. Umesh said the local bodies were in the process of setting up the facilities. Tender and other related procedures were progressing, he added. The land was allotted on the basis of applications submitted by the local bodies. The extent of land was sanctioned as per requirements submitted by them.

The government has entrusted District Collectors to sanction revenue land up to 25 cents within corporation limits, 50 cents in municipalities, and up to 2 acres in panchayats for setting up waste treatment plants. The ownership of the land will lie with the Revenue department.

Local bodies will not be able to use the land for any other projects or activities. They cannot lease, sub-lease, or pledge the land with any financial institution. Construction works of waste treatment plants and material collection facilities must start within a year of the allotment, according to the guidelines.