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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UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
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