Sabarimala Waste Removal Faces Setback; Clean Kerala Company’s Operations Halted
Pathanamthitta: The waste management initiative at Sabarimala has run into a roadblock, with the Clean Kerala Company stopping its waste-removal operations just a day after beginning work at Pamba and Sannidhanam.
Following nearly a year of discussions, an understanding had been reached to remove the entire quantity of waste from Sabarimala after segregating it. As part of the plan, the first load of segregated waste was prepared, and an official launch of the collection of non-biodegradable waste was scheduled for Monday at 3 pm, with Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President K. Jayakumar set to inaugurate the initiative.
However, the programme did not take place. Following objections raised by some officials, the Clean Kerala Company was excluded from the collection and segregation of non-biodegradable waste.
At a meeting led by TDB President K. Jayakumar, it was decided that, for now, only plastic waste from Sannidhanam would be packed in sacks and transported to Pamba.
The original plan was to segregate and remove accumulated waste from various locations at Sannidhanam and Pamba, including garbage, plastic bottles, glass, scrap materials and construction debris. Under the proposed arrangement, the Devaswom Board would receive a fixed amount for recyclable materials, while charges would be collected for processing and disposing of the remaining waste.
However, a formal agreement had not been signed between the parties. With the Sabarimala pilgrimage season approaching, the Clean Kerala Company had been instructed to begin the work despite the pending agreement.
Following the direction, around 15 employees of the company, along with a vehicle, reached Sabarimala and began the waste-removal operations. The work was subsequently halted following differences over the proposed waste-management arrangement.