Thiruvananthapuram: City corporation is exploring alternative uses for its land at Jagathy Junction after strong opposition from locals as more than 100 tonnes of legacy waste remains buried at the site. Civic authorities proposed converting the land into a private bus parking facility or other public utility project after removing the accumulated waste.Mayor V V Rajesh and health standing committee chairman M R Gopan initiated preliminary discussions in this regard. The waste accumulated at the site after excavation works were carried out to construct a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) plant proposed by the previous governing council. This waste was not removed by the previous council. However, the current council is likely to drop the RDF project following public opposition and logistical challenges.Speaking to TOI, Gopan said the corporation hasn’t taken a decision even as several proposals are under consideration.“We conducted preliminary discussions to use corporation’s land. We are aware of apprehensions raised by neighbouring residents. We will make efforts to remove the legacy rubbish from the land as soon as possible. This land is in the heart of the city, and it should not remain in such a condition,” he said.“We will soon decide on utilising this land. The proposals include a private bus parking space or a biodegradable waste processing centre, among others,” he added.The presence of buried waste was a major concern for residents in Jagathy area, with decomposed waste reportedly emitting a foul odour and raising fears of environmental and health risks. According to earlier reports, excavation works at the site unearthed large quantities of old plastic, organic sludge and construction debris buried for years.Corporation officials said the first step before any development would be removal of legacy waste through biomining, a process in which old waste is scientifically segregated and recycled to reclaim land. The initiative is part of a broader state-level effort to clear legacy waste dumps across Kerala under waste management programmes supported by national and international agencies.The debate over Jagathy site comes when the state capital city is struggling to strengthen its waste management infrastructure. Protests by residents against waste facilities and a shortage of material collection centres complicated efforts to manage municipal waste efficiently in city’s several wards.Civic authorities say converting the land into a bus parking facility could help ease congestion in city’s central areas, where parking space for private buses remains limited. Officials indicated that further consultations with residents and councillors will be held before finalising a proposal.
