Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala High Court Labels Capital City 'Most Unhygienic' - 'Piled Up by Garbage'
KOCHI: Highlighting the severe waste management issues in Thiruvananthapuram, the Kerala High Court on Friday stated that no other capital city was in such an unhygienic condition.
During a special session held after the death of a sanitation worker who went missing in the waste-filled Amayizhanchan canal, the division bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath suggested that authorities visit Sri Lanka to learn from their waste management practices. The court noted that the report from the amici curiae, appointed to assess the condition of the canal, presented an embarrassing situation for the state.
“Thiruvananthapuram is currently in a dire state. Nowhere else can you find a capital city in such an unhygienic condition. All capital cities in the world are...visual treat. Even in India, most of the capital cities are visual treats. But the report of the amici curiae pointed out that every part of Thiruvananthapuram is piled up by garbage. How could this happen in a place which is under the nose of the government,” asked the bench. They suggested that authorities visit countries like Sri Lanka to understand their waste management methods.
“If you want to understand how cities are kept clean, you don’t have to travel far. Just go to Sri Lanka and see the number of tourists visiting the country and the cleanliness of the roads and streets. You can’t find a single piece of litter. Sri Lanka is not a rich country,” the bench commented.
The court also referenced Singapore’s waste management techniques, where plastic waste is incinerated to generate substantial energy, such as electricity. Authorities were urged to seek expert help and adopt waste management techniques from other countries.
Government's Plan to Address Waste Issues
The High Court demanded the government explain its plan to prevent further dumping of plastic waste into the canal and how it intends to remove the existing waste. Sarada Muraleedharan, additional chief secretary, appeared online and mentioned that trash booms would be cleaned daily. She added that the government plans to set up facilities for collecting non-biodegradable waste and expand the existing Thumboormuzhi plant for bio-waste processing.
The court requested a detailed report on the government's planned actions, emphasizing the importance of keeping the city clean. Sarada acknowledged the state's responsibility for the contamination of the Amayizhanchan canal and promised to submit a report outlining the problems and the steps to clear the plastic waste.
The court remarked that merely registering criminal cases is insufficient. It urged the government to initiate confiscation proceedings to prevent repeat offenses and consider installing CCTV cameras to monitor violations. Sarada mentioned that 10 cameras from the Smart City Mission would be installed, along with street lamps for proper lighting at garbage-prone points.
