Kasaragod: Mosquito menace from plastic shredder unit concern Kayyar residents
Kayyar hosts 4,268 residents, an 85-year-old church, a school, and numerous laterite stone quarries
Manjeshwara (Paivalike): At a time when the Kerala Government has set in motion its majestic ‘Nava Kerala Sadas,’ outreach program here at Paivalike on Saturday(Nov 18). Residents from the state’s northern tip, in Kasaragod, Kayyar under the Paivalike Panchayat limits here, complain of persistent rise in pollution and mosquito menace caused by a nearby ‘plastic shredder unit’ arising questions over the state’s firm pursuit on the ‘Malinya Muktham Nava Keralam’ (Pollution free new Kerala) campaign covering every nook and corner of the state.
The ‘plastic shredder unit’ located in close proximity to Christ the King Church, Don Bosco AUP School and several residential houses, has been in operation since the past 8 years. The exercise in the unit involves crushing and converting used plastic which is stockpiled in large numbers into granules and sending it for recycling.
Residents in the vicinity complain of increasing mosquito menace, supposedly breeding from the standing rainwater in plastic components. An agitated resident stated that “ We are not seeking a closure of the unit but demand clearing the plastic stockpile before adding new stock.” Locals further allege that despite several complaints to the district administration, no action has been initiated. The region is also one of the primary locations in the district known for unearthing and supplying of laterite stones.
At the same time, the unit owner alleges that locals, influenced by Panchayat member Avinash Machado, make false claims. He claims Avinash sought electricity from the unit’s transformer for personal use, which he denied. Avinash then allegedly instigated locals against him. When asked about addressing the alleged mosquito menace, the unit owner said, "We are adhering to the Panchayat's instructions. We plan to cover the entire premises with tin roofing to mitigate any issues for the locals."
Responding to the allegations, Avinash Machado, INC Panchayat Member, Paivalike Panchayat, asserts, “The unit was allowed to function at a small scale, only after seeking the consent of the nearby residents. We did not imagine that it would expand to such a level. I have a transformer near my residence. I Am neither against the functioning of the unit nor seeking its closure. We simply asked them to clear off the huge amounts of plastic stockpile which aids in breeding of mosquitoes.”
Furthermore, Avinash said that he had reported the issue to the panchayat, leading to officials visiting the site. They instructed the unit to clear the substantial plastic stockpile within three months. However, the pile remains uncleared, with fresh stockpiles added to the unit's premises.
He also mentioned that he had taken forward the complaints to the DC and RDO Kasaragod Collectorate. A copy of the receipt of the complaint has been accessed by Vartha Bharathi.
(Receipt of the complaint given to the Panchayat Member) Image Courtesy: Avinash Machado
Fr. Vishal Monis, Parish Priest, Christ the King Church expresses outrage highlighting the threat of mosquito-borne diseases for Sunday mass attendees. “Tiny plastic particles constantly flow during the crushing process into the air from the shredder unit which is adjacent to the church cemetery,” he added. The Headmaster of the Don Bosco AUP school also expressed concern over the unaddressed matter and added that, “We have instructed our students to avoid going near the plant.”
Meanwhile, activist Jaya D'almeida, who is professionally a coolie worker from Kayyar, speaking to the Vartha Bharathi revealed that, “We had formally complained to the Panchayat secretary, protested against the shredder unit. But, when the District Collector himself had arrived in the village we had informed him that the issue was not resolved even after two months, the DC in response captured pictures of the complaint copy and promised action within the following afternoon, however to our dismay no action has been taken until now.”
Jaya, among the initial objectors in the vicinity, wrote a letter to the District Collector, Kasaragod, drawing attention to the plastic shredder unit. The letter highlighted concerns about noise and air pollution, emphasizing the unit's expansion from a small scale without locals being aware. This, in turn, has resulted in health issues and a persistent mosquito menace among the residents in the vicinity.
(Copy of the letter written to the District Collector) Courtesy: Jaya D'almeida
When approached for a comment, the Revenue Division Officer was unavailable. However, the Paivalike Panchayat Secretary, who in conversation with this correspondent said that officials from the panchayat had visited the site and instructed them to clear the stockpile. In response, they said that they will place tin roofing to cover the premises. The matter has been reported to the district collectorate, and the unit proprietor claims to have crushed 60% of the plastic, transporting it as reported to the panchayat.
When asked about Jaya’s appeal to the DC and the delay in his promised immediate action, the secretary revealed that officials of all ranks are busy in preparations for the launch of the ‘Nava Kerala Sadas’ in Manjeshwar, hosted by Paivalike Panchayat itself on Saturday (November 18), “which is why we lost attention from the matter.”
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Leadership issue: Cong high command will call us at 'appropriate time,' will wait, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru, Dec 20 (PTI): With the leadership issue involving him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah coming to the fore again, deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday said the Congress high command has told the two leaders as to when they will be called to Delhi to to discuss the matter.
He said that both of them will go to Delhi and meet the high command, when summoned.
"I will inform you, I won't do anything without informing you. I will not go hiding from you," Shivakumar told reporters here in response to a question on him and Siddaramaiah's likely visit to the national capital to meet the party high command after the just concluded legislature session.
Asked if there was any invitation from the high command, asking him and CM to come to Delhi, he said, "they have told something to both of us, they have told both of us over phone as to when they will call us. We will go, both of us will go."
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"They (high command) have said they will call both of us at the appropriate time, we will wait for the call," the Karnataka Congress chief added.
Shivakumar's statement came a day after Siddaramaiah asserted in the Assembly that he would continue in office. He had also said that the Congress high command was "in my favour" and asserted that no decision was made on him staying at the helm for only two-and-a-half years, as per a rumoured 2023 agreement on power-sharing with his deputy.
Shivakumar, had said that he and CM Siddaramaiah have come to an agreement with the involvement of the Congress high command, and both of them will abide by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fueled by the "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in 2023.
Meanwhile some 'Naga Sadhus' visited the Deputy CM's residence and blessed him.
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Stating that he is going to Delhi on Tuesday to meet various central ministers, Shivakumar, who is also the Minister for water resources said, "the central government's water resources department has called us regarding interlinking of rivers."
"I will go there and discuss matters related to the state's river projects like Mahadayi, Krishna water award, Mekedatu, and Upper Badhra."
He said he will also meet the central water resources minister, forest minister, urban development minister.
"There are a lot of issues. We wanted to meet them along with MPs from the state, but still I will go and meet. Then after that, if needed, we will meet the Prime Minister also with the issues," Shivkumar added.
Hitting out at the Modi government at the Center for replacing the existing rural employment law MGNREGA, and removing Mahatma Gandhi's name from it, Shivakumar accused it of insulting the father of the nation.
He also challenged the government to remove Gandhiji's image from currency notes.
"The country wants Gandhi. People of the country will respond to it," he said.
"They want to change Gandhi's name...let them change this picture of Gandhi also," he said, showing a currency note.
"With Gandhi's name we had started an employment guarantee scheme under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and (late) Manmohan Singh (former PM), the MGNREGA.....they want to kill the scheme, so they have changed its name. A big movement will start against it from Karnataka itself," he said.
